The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has informed users who purchased the antivirus software Avast about the opportunity to receive compensation due to the company’s allegations of engaging in unfair marketing practices and selling users’ personal data. According to the FTC, Avast falsely claimed to protect users’ private information and block third-party tracking without disclosing the collection and sale of detailed web activity data to over 100 third-party organizations through its subsidiary Jumpshot.
In response to the Avast case, the company has agreed to pay $16.5 million to compensate affected users. Additionally, Avast will be prohibited from deceiving customers about their data processing practices and from selling or licensing information about users’ web page views for advertising purposes.
Notifications about potential compensation have been sent to 3,690,813 individuals who purchased Avast antivirus between August 2014 and January 2020. Recipients can apply for a refund through the FTC website until June 5, 2025. FTC clarifies that no payment or banking information is necessary to apply for or receive funds.
FTC has created a special interactive portal where users can track the distribution of compensation by state in real-time. In 2024, the FTC returned over $285 million to consumers in various cases, underscoring their commitment to safeguarding data protection and raising awareness about potential threats and scams.
This case serves as a reminder that protecting personal data is not only the responsibility of companies but also a right that must be upheld by every user.