Source: Chesnot / Getty
Following the massive harvesting of Facebook data by Cambridge Analytica, Facebook has been struggling to get a handle on the scandal, even going so far as to suspend the account of the whistleblower who alerted the outside world to what was happening. While the social media colossus is planning to hold a crisis meeting, CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn’t expected to attend, and it appears that Facebook may really be in trouble this time.
Adding to Facebook’s troubles, Bloomberg reports that the Federal Trade Commission is probing whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent decree by handing over users’ data to Cambridge Analytica without their knowledge or permission. If true, the FTC joins both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, which are scheduling briefings with representatives from the committee.
The issue is a muddled one. In 2011, Facebook settled a complaint that it had changed some users’ data without notifying them, forcing users to share more data than they had permitted. If Facebook is found to have violated the previous agreement, it could face a $40,000 a day fine for each violation — a staggering amount given the large number of U.S. users the company has.
Meanwhile, the British Parliament has summoned Zuckerberg to appear before them and give evidence, something they forecast over the weekend.
READ MORE: Uproxx.com
Article Courtesy of Uproxx
First and Second Picture Courtesy of Chesnot and Getty Images
Facebook to Be Probed Over Its Misuse of User Data was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
