Criterion Channel Settlement 2026: Payments Issued, Claim Deadline Closed
Quick Answer
- The Criterion Channel settlement is real. Criterion paid $4.5 million to resolve privacy claims over sharing subscriber data with Meta and Twilio.
- Payments for approved claims were issued on January 27, 2026. The claim deadline was August 19, 2025, and it has passed.
- If you received a check, deposit or cash it before July 27, 2026, or the funds are lost.
The Criterion Channel settlement is one of the cleaner privacy class actions to reach resolution in recent years. The Criterion Collection agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle claims that it disclosed subscribers’ personally identifiable information to Meta Platforms and Twilio without consent .
If you subscribed to the Criterion Channel and watched a prerecorded video between September 27, 2022, and December 27, 2024, you may have qualified for a cash payment . But the claim deadline was August 19, 2025, and that date has passed .
This article explains what the settlement resolved, who received payments, and what to do if you still have a check in your possession. One critical detail: the settlement also required Criterion to stop using the tracking tools that triggered the lawsuit, a remedy that outlasts the money .
The Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Case | Lucchese-Soto, et al. v. The Criterion Collection, LLC |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York |
| Case Number | 1:24-cv-07345-VEC |
| Status | Final approval granted October 15, 2025; payments issued January 27, 2026 |
| Fund Size | $4.5 million |
| Est. Per Person | Pro rata share of the fund after fees and expenses |
| Claim Deadline | August 19, 2025 (passed) |
| Administrator | Kroll Settlement Administration LLC |
| Proof Needed | Account records; no receipts required for most claims |
Is the Criterion Channel settlement real or a scam?
The Criterion Channel settlement is real, and it received final court approval on October 15, 2025 . The settlement was authorized by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, with Judge Valerie E. Caproni presiding .
This is not an active scam. It is a closed settlement with a confirmed payment date. The settlement administrator, Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, has already issued payments to approved claimants .
If you receive a message claiming you can still file a claim or that you need to pay a fee to release your settlement funds, that is fraud. The claim deadline passed on August 19, 2025, and no legitimate administrator is accepting new claims .
How much was the Criterion Channel settlement payout?
The Criterion Channel settlement payout was a pro rata share of the $4.5 million settlement fund. Pro rata means each approved claimant received an equal share of what remained after fees and expenses were deducted .
The fund covered several categories before payments went out:
| Allocation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Settlement Fund | $4,500,000 |
| Attorneys’ Fees | Up to $1,499,850 |
| Service Awards | Up to $2,500 per class representative |
| Administration Costs | Paid from the fund |
| Class Member Payments | Remainder, distributed pro rata |
The exact per-person amount depends on how many valid claims were approved. Because the settlement is closed, the final per-person figure is not publicly posted on the settlement website .
Key Takeaway: The $4.5 million fund did not go entirely to subscribers. Attorneys’ fees, administration costs, and service awards came out first. Your payment was your pro rata share of what was left.
Who qualified for the Criterion Channel settlement?
You may have qualified for the Criterion Channel settlement if you met two criteria during the class period of September 27, 2022, through December 27, 2024:
- You were a registered user of, or had a subscription to, the Criterion Channel Service in the United States.
- You watched at least one prerecorded video through the Criterion Channel Service .
The Criterion Channel Service includes the website (criterionchannel.com), the iOS and Android mobile apps, and any other platform where Criterion Channel content was available to subscribers (Roku, tvOS, Android TV, Fire TV, Samsung TV, and Xbox) .
You did not need to prove that your data was specifically shared. The class definition was based on subscription status and viewing activity, not individual harm .
How do I check the status of my Criterion Channel claim?
You cannot file a new claim. The claim deadline was August 19, 2025 . The settlement website now serves as a status and information page, not a filing portal .
If you filed a claim before the deadline, your claim was reviewed, and payments were issued on January 27, 2026 .
Here is what you should have received:
- A paper check mailed to the address on your claim form, unless you elected PayPal or Venmo during the online claim process.
- An email confirmation if you provided an email address and elected electronic payment.
If you filed a claim and did not receive a payment, check the settlement website’s FAQ section for guidance. The administrator’s contact information remains available on the official site .
What happens if I don’t cash my Criterion Channel settlement check?
If you do not cash your Criterion Channel settlement check by July 27, 2026, it becomes void. The settlement website explicitly warns: “Please deposit or cash your check promptly, as any uncashed checks will become void after July 27, 2026” .
Once a check is void, the funds may be redistributed or returned to the settlement fund. You cannot request a replacement after that date through normal channels.
If you still have an uncashed check, deposit it immediately. If the check has already expired, contact the settlement administrator to ask whether any remedy exists. Do not expect a favorable answer. The deadline is firm.
Reality Check: No one is calling, texting, or emailing you to “release” Criterion settlement funds. If you get a message like that, it is a scam. The settlement is closed, payments went out in January 2026, and the only legitimate action left is cashing a valid check.
What was the Criterion Channel lawsuit about?
The Criterion Channel lawsuit was a privacy class action. It claimed that Criterion disclosed subscribers’ personally identifiable information to Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) and Twilio without consent, in violation of multiple privacy statutes .
The specific statutes cited in the complaint included:
- Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), 18 U.S.C. § 2710
- Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), 18 U.S.C. § 2510
- Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act (WESCA)
- Florida Security of Communications Act (FSCA)
The VPPA claim was central. It defines personally identifiable information to include information that identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific video materials or services . The lawsuit alleged that Criterion’s use of the Meta Pixel and Segment API/SDK on video pages transmitted viewing data to third parties .
Criterion denied any wrongdoing. The company settled to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation .
What prospective relief did the Criterion Channel settlement require?
The Criterion Channel settlement required Criterion to stop using the Meta Pixel and Segment SDK on its website and apps to disclose specific video content requested by individuals .
The injunction remains in effect until the VPPA is abolished, amended, or declared unconstitutional .
This is a permanent behavioral change, not a one-time payment. It prevents the same alleged conduct from recurring. For privacy advocates, this remedy may matter more than the cash payments.
What happens next in the Criterion Channel settlement?
The settlement is in its final administrative phase. Here is the timeline:
January 27, 2026: Payments issued to approved claimants .
July 27, 2026: Uncashed checks become void .
Expected late 2026: Any residual funds may be redistributed or handled per the settlement agreement’s terms.
Ongoing: The injunction prohibiting Criterion from using the tracking tools on video pages remains in effect .
No further court hearings are scheduled for this case. The final judgment was entered on October 15, 2025, and the McGuire action was administratively terminated in November 2025 .
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Criterion Channel settlement still open for claims?
No. The claim deadline was August 19, 2025, and it has passed. No new claims are being accepted .
How much did each person get from the Criterion Channel settlement?
Each approved claimant received a pro rata share of the $4.5 million fund after fees and expenses. The exact per-person amount is not publicly posted .
When were Criterion Channel settlement payments sent?
Payments were issued on January 27, 2026, to approved claimants .
What happens if I don’t cash my Criterion Channel check?
The check becomes void after July 27, 2026. Deposit or cash it before that date .
Can I still file a Criterion Channel claim?
No. The deadline was August 19, 2025. Late claims are not accepted .
Did Criterion admit wrongdoing in the settlement?
No. Criterion denies any wrongdoing and maintains it did not violate any law. The settlement is a compromise, not an admission .
What was the Criterion Channel class period?
The class period was September 27, 2022, through December 27, 2024 .
What is the Criterion Channel settlement administrator?
The administrator is Kroll Settlement Administration LLC .
What you should do now
If you received a Criterion Channel settlement check, deposit or cash it before July 27, 2026. After that date, the check is void and the funds are lost.
If you missed the claim deadline, there is nothing you can do to file now. The settlement is closed, and late claims are not accepted.
For other open privacy settlements, check the official settlement website for current opportunities. And if you receive an unsolicited message about “unclaimed Criterion funds,” ignore it. The settlement is over.
