https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/07/24/facebook-and-other-big-settlements-who-gets-the-money/ > Days after news of a $575 million settlement over the massive Equifax data breach, the FTC announced a $5 billion fine on Facebook. > But there’s a big difference. Facebook users get nothing directly from the multibillion-dollar fine over the company’s privacy practices because the $5 billion was a civil penalty.