Facebook in sights of growing number
Investigators, regulators want answers about data
NEW YORK — U.S. regulators and state attorneys general are increasing pressure on Facebook as they probe whether the company’s data-collection practices have hurt the people who use its services.
The Federal Trade Commission on Monday confirmed news reports that it is investigating the company. Separately, the attorneys general for 37 U.S. states and territories sought details Monday on how Facebook monitored what app developers did with data collected on Facebook users and whether Facebook had safeguards to prevent misuse.
Facebook’s privacy practices have come under fire after revelations that Cambridge Analytica got data on millions of Facebook users. That included information on friends of people who had downloaded a psychological quiz app, even though those friends hadn’t given explicit consent to sharing.
Facebook is also facing questions about reports that it collected years of contact names, telephone numbers, call lengths and information about text messages from Android users. Facebook said the data are used “to improve people’s experience across Facebook” by helping to connect with others. But the company did not spell out exactly what it used the data for or why it needed them.
European officials have also been investigating or seeking more information. Germany’s justice minister said Monday after a meeting with executives of Facebook about the abuse of users’ data that she wants closer oversight of such companies. Last week, a U.K. parliamentary media committee summoned CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify about how Facebook uses data, while U.K. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham is investigating how Cambridge Analytica got the data.
In addition, the state’s attorney of Cook County in Illinois has sued Facebook and Cambridge Analytica for consumer fraud after revelations that the latter obtained data on millions of Facebook users. Facebook has not commented on the lawsuit.
Facebook said in a statement Monday that the company remains “strongly committed” to protecting people’s information and that it welcomes the opportunity to answer the FTC’S questions.