FTC notifies 3.7 million Avast customers about compensation
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is emailing 3.7 million Avast customers, informing them they may be eligible for compensation due to Avast’s deceptive privacy practices.
Avast collected and sold users’ browsing data without proper consent while falsely claiming its software protected privacy. The FTC ruled that this practice violated U.S. law.
Avast’s data was sold through Jumpshot, a company it controlled. Google and Mozilla removed Avast extensions in 2019, and Jumpshot was shut down in 2020 following public backlash.
Since at least 2014, Avast collected search histories and website visits, allowing third parties to track users despite contracts supposedly restricting re-identification.
Avast must pay $16.5 million, which will be distributed among affected customers. Emails with compensation claim instructions will be sent by March 7, 2025.
Read the FTC article for more information.