AT&T's $177 Million Settlement Will Pay Victims of Two Huge Data Breaches: Learn Who Qualifies
In a significant move towards accountability and compensation for its customers, AT&T has agreed to pay up to $177 million to settle two lawsuits related to massive data breaches that compromised the personal information of over 100 million people. The settlement is expected to provide relief to those who suffered damages as a result of these security incidents.
Last year, AT&T confirmed two major data breaches, one occurring in 2019 and the other in April 2024. In 2019, approximately 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former account holders had their sensitive information exposed to hackers, including names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. The second breach began in 2024, when a hacker accessed 109 million US customers' call and text records through Snowflake cloud storage provider.
Two individuals were arrested in connection with the 2024 breach, highlighting the severity of the incident. The two data breaches sparked a wave of class-action lawsuits against AT&T, alleging corporate neglect for failing to adequately protect its customers.
Eligibility and Claim Process
If you are an AT&T customer or former customer whose data was accessed in one of these breaches, you may be eligible for the settlement. The company expects that the claims process will begin on August 4, 2025, with claim submissions due by November 18, 2025.
To qualify for higher payouts, claimants must "reasonably" prove damages caused by the data breaches. For the 2019 breach, those affected can receive up to $5,000, while the maximum payout for the Snowflake breach in 2024 will be $2,500. It's unclear how AT&T plans to handle customers who have been impacted by both breaches.
Payment Details
The settlement amount of $177 million will prioritize larger payments to customers who suffered "fairly traceable" damages and provide bigger payouts for those affected by the larger breach. Payments are expected to commence in early 2026, although exact dates have not been announced.
What's Next
The recent court order approving the settlement lists a notification schedule of August 4 to October 17, 2025, and a deadline for submitting claims of November 18, 2025. A final approval hearing on December 3, 2025, is required for payments to begin.
As the process unfolds, we will continue to provide updates and information on this developing story. For more news on recent settlements and claim procedures, visit our dedicated resources section.
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