Facebook is not only in the crosshairs of european authorities. The social network is in full negotiation with the FTC, the us government agency responsible for the enforcement of the rights of consumers, following an investigation into its relationships with Cambridge Analytica. This british society of data analysis is accused of stealing information from users of Facebook for the benefit of the campaign of Donald Trump, with the help of fake personality tests. The company of Mark Zuckerberg risks a fine of several billion dollars, according to the information of the Washington Post . It would be the sanction the biggest ever imposed by the agency. In 2012, Google had had to pay a fine of $ 22.5 million to the FTC, also the default data protection of its users.
The Washington the Post states that the fine is still under negotiation. Facebook could indeed change some of its practices, in exchange for a reduction in the amount of the fine imposed by the FTC. This agreement could be approved by a judge. It could also force other companies on the Web to submit to stricter new rules on the use of the data of their users. Facebook could also choose to finally contest the fine. He has already done in the United Kingdom, where he has appealed the decision to the ICO, the constable british of personal data, which has been ordered to pay 500,000 pounds, always in the case of Cambridge Analytica.
political Pressure
Facebook has confirmed to be in discussion with the FTC, but declined to make further comments. The FTC had announced the opening of an investigation on the case of Cambridge Analytica in march 2018. This scandal concerns the data of more than 87 million users in the world. In this context, Facebook may have violated a decree signed in 2011 with the FTC. The latter is committed to comply with the users consent, asking permission every time they share their data with other entities.
At the time of the initiation of the investigation to the FTC, Facebook had said they had always respected the choices of its users. “People have provided their information [to entities working for Cambridge Analytica, editor’s NOTE] in knowledge. No system has been infiltrated, no password, no sensitive data were stolen. But they have been a victim of a scam, and so are we,” was then commented on Paul Grewal, vice-president of Facebook.
in The United States, in addition to the case of Cambridge Analytica, Facebook has also had to answer for his indirect role in the dissemination of the contents of propaganda sponsored by Russia, in order to push the election of Donald Trump to the presidency in 2016. Leaders of the social network and other online platforms, have been summoned several times to explain to the u.s. Congress. Facebook and other Web giants are also increasingly under pressure from the legislator regarding their practices in terms of privacy. California has in the last year of a law nicknamed the “RGPD american”, in homage to the european regulation of data protection, in force since the month of may in Europe. A federal statute, regulating more strictly the use of personal information online, is currently under discussion.
