AT&T Settles Data Breach Lawsuit for $177 Million, Claims Deadline Extended

WASHINGTON — AT&T has agreed to pay $177 million to settle a class action lawsuit related to two significant data breaches in 2024. A judge recently extended the deadline for affected customers to file claims after an order was issued on October 3.

The class action lawsuit addresses breaches that occurred on March 30 and July 12 of 2024, which resulted in sensitive customer information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers, being compromised. According to court documents, some of this data ended up on the dark web or was illegally accessed from a third-party cloud platform.

The initial deadline for claims was set for November 18 but has now been pushed back to December 18, 2025. Those who wish to opt out of the settlement to pursue individual lawsuits must do so by November 17.

Individuals in the U.S. whose data was involved in the breaches may submit claims to receive compensation. There are different payout caps—up to $5,000 for losses related to the first incident and up to $2,500 for losses from the second incident. Customers who were affected by both breaches could receive as much as $7,500.

Kroll Settlement Administration, the firm overseeing the settlement process, encourages customers to check if they are eligible for compensation. They can file claims either online or via mail, where proof of losses may be required for higher payouts.

Currently, the settlement still needs approval from a judge, with a hearing scheduled for January 15, 2026. Even following approval, appeals may prolong the distribution of payments.