Facebook boss in privacy plea

FACEBOOK boss Mark Zuckerberg angered EU officials yesterday by demanding his questioning by MEPs should be behind closed doors.

The billionaire, pictured, is said to have insisted on the restriction after agreeing to explain the data leak scandal engulfing his firm. But senior EU figures said they would boycott the European Parliament hearing next Tuesday unless he answered questions in public.

Zuckerberg, 34, refused a similar invitation from MPs in Britain – but has agreed to meet French president Emmanuel Macron on a visit to Europe next week.

The furore comes in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data harvesting scandal. Critics yesterday accused the European Parliament of ‘bowing’ to Zuckerberg’s demands. Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal group, insisted: ‘I will not attend the meeting with Mr Zuckerberg if it’s held behind closed doors.’