Comcast settles for $117.5 million in 2023 data breach case

Comcast has reached a settlement agreement that involves the payment of $117.5 million to resolve a class action lawsuit related to a data breach that occurred in October 2023. This breach resulted in the exposure of personal information belonging to an estimated 31.6 million customers in the United States and its territories, many of whom were notified individually by Comcast about the incident.

The lawsuit alleged that Comcast did not have sufficient cybersecurity measures in place, which enabled attackers to take advantage of a vulnerability in the company’s systems between October 16 and October 19, 2023. Despite these claims, Comcast has maintained its position of no wrongdoing in this matter.

As part of the settlement, eligible class members will have the opportunity to seek reimbursement for documented financial losses incurred as a result of the breach, including expenses related to identity theft and fraud. The maximum amount that an individual can claim in reimbursement is $10,000. Furthermore, affected customers can also request compensation for up to five hours of lost time in relation to the breach, with a repayment rate of $30 per hour, also subject to the $10,000 cap.

For those class members who do not wish to provide documentation for their losses, they have the option to receive a one-time cash payment, which is anticipated to be around $50, depending on how many valid claims are submitted. Additionally, the settlement includes the provision of free identity protection services to those customers whose information was compromised in the data breach. Detailed information regarding the extent and duration of these services has yet to be disclosed.

The final approval of the settlement is scheduled to be considered by the court on July 7, and the deadline for submitting claim forms is August 14. Any payments resulting from the settlement will only be issued after the court has granted final approval, and any potential appeals have been resolved.