AT&T Reaches $177 Million Settlement Over Dual Data Breaches
Millions of current and former AT&T customers may be eligible for cash payments following a proposed $177 million class-action settlement. The agreement addresses two significant data breaches announced in 2024 that exposed the personal information of over 100 million individuals. While the company denies any wrongdoing, it has agreed to the settlement to avoid prolonged litigation. Eligible individuals have until November 18, 2025, to file a claim for compensation, which could be as high as $7,500 for those with documented losses from both incidents.
A Closer Look at the Breaches
The settlement is divided into two funds, each corresponding to a separate data security incident.
The March 2024 Disclosure
The larger portion of the settlement, a $149 million fund, relates to a data breach announced on March 30, 2024. This incident involved a dataset containing information from as far back as 2019 that was discovered on the dark web. It affected approximately 73 million current and former AT&T customers. The compromised data was highly sensitive and included:
- Full names and addresses
- Dates of birth
- Phone numbers and email addresses
- Social Security numbers
- Account passcodes and billing numbers
The July 2024 Snowflake Hack
A second fund of $28 million addresses a breach announced on July 12, 2024. This incident stemmed from an illegal download of AT&T data stored on a third-party cloud platform, Snowflake. It exposed the call and text message logs of nearly all of AT&T’s cellular customers, impacting an estimated 109 million accounts. The exposed data included records of interactions between May and October 2022 but did not contain the content of communications, Social Security numbers, or other personally identifiable information.
Who is Eligible to File a Claim?
Eligibility for the settlement depends on which breach compromised your data. You may be a member of one or both settlement classes:
- AT&T 1 Settlement Class: U.S. residents whose personal data, including Social Security numbers, was part of the breach announced in March 2024.
- AT&T 2 Settlement Class: AT&T account owners or users whose call and text logs were exposed in the breach announced in July 2024.
Individuals affected by both incidents are considered “overlap” members and can file claims for both funds. The settlement administrator, Kroll Settlement Administration, has been notifying eligible customers via email from the address [email protected]. If you believe you are eligible but have not received a notice, you can contact Kroll at (833) 890-4930 to verify your status.
How Much Can You Receive?
The potential payout varies based on the breach and the ability to provide proof of financial harm.
- Documented Losses: Customers impacted by the first breach can claim up to $5,000 for documented losses incurred from 2019 onward that are traceable to the incident. Those affected by the second breach can claim up to $2,500 for losses occurring on or after April 14, 2024. Overlap members can claim up to a combined $7,500, provided the documented losses are unique to each breach.
- Alternative Payments: For those without documented losses, alternative cash payments are available. For the first breach, payments are tiered, with individuals whose Social Security numbers were exposed receiving five times the amount of those whose other data was compromised. For the second breach, claimants will receive an equal, pro-rata share of the remaining funds. The final amount for these payments will depend on the total number of valid claims filed.
How to File and Key Deadlines
Filing a claim is a straightforward process, but strict deadlines apply. According to information available on digitaltrendstoday.com, the deadline to submit a claim is November 18, 2025. Claims can be filed online at the official settlement website, telecomdatasettlement.com, using the Class Member ID provided in the notification email. Forms can also be printed and mailed, but they must be postmarked by the deadline.
Other important dates include:
- October 17, 2025: Deadline to opt out of the settlement to retain your right to sue AT&T individually, or to object to the settlement terms.
- December 3, 2025: A final approval hearing is scheduled in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Payments are expected to be distributed in early 2026, following the final approval and the resolution of any potential appeals.
