Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been summoned by the UK Parliament to testify on the use of personal data by British data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica. A UK parliamentary committee has asked Zuckerberg to provide evidence in the recent data breach that was brought to light by whistleblower Christopher Wylie, a former employee of Cambridge Analytica.
Damian Collins, the chairman of the Commons inquiry into fake news, in a letter, has asked Zuckerberg to answer about the "catastrophic failure of process" regarding the handling of user data. "It is now time to hear from a senior Facebook executive with the sufficient authority to give an accurate account of this catastrophic failure of process," the letter states.
"Given your commitment at the start of the new year to 'fixing' Facebook, I hope that this representative will be you," it adds.
Facebook has been rocked this week by a whistleblower who said that Cambridge Analytica, a UK-based political firm hired by Donald Trump, had improperly accessed information on 50 million Facebook users to sway public opinion.
As the data theft allegations get murkier day-by-day, here are the latest developments in the case:
1. Academic behind Facebook breach says he is a "scapegoat"
A Cambridge University academic who harvested data on millions of Facebook users said he had been made a scapegoat by the social network and a UK-based political consultancy, and that the accuracy of the data set had been exaggerated. Facebook has said the data was harvested by Aleksandr Kogan, a psychology academic."The events of the past week have been a total shell shock," he said. "My view is that I'm being basically used as a scapegoat by both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica when... we
thought we were doing something that was really normal". He said the accuracy of the dataset had been "exaggerated" by Cambridge Analytica, and said the dataset was more likely to hurt Trump's campaign.
2. US competition watchdog probing Facebook data scandal
The US Federal Trade Commission, a consumer and competition watchdog, is investigating Facebook after the major data scandal. The Wall Street Journal reported that the FTC is probing whether, by the data transfer to Cambridge Analytica, Facebook violated terms of a decree under which it agreed to get user consent for collecting personal data and sharing it with others. In a similar report, The Washington Post said if the FTC ultimately finds that Facebook broke that agreement, it could fine the company $40,000 for each violation.
3. Facebook to testify before US Senate
Facebook will brief US Senate and House aides on Wednesday, congressional staff said amid growing pressure on the social media company to answer questions over the use of its users' data. A House Energy and Commerce Committee spokeswoman confirmed the briefing would take place as did a Senate aide. The briefing comes amid some calls from lawmakers for Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to appear before Congress.
4. European Union probe
The EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said she plans to meet with Facebook during a visit to the US this week and seek answers to claims that Cambridge Analytica kept information on tens of millions of the social network giant's users. "From a European Union perspective, the misuse for political purposes of personal data belonging to Facebook users if confirmed is not acceptable," the EU said in a statement.
5. Facebook 'outraged' by misuse of data by Cambridge Analytica
Facebook said it was "outraged" after being "deceived" over the misuse of data by political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.
A company statement appeared to place the blame for the incident on the British-based firm linked to President Donald Trump, which according to Facebook violated terms of the social network by misusing data from an academic researcher. "The entire company is outraged we were deceived. We are committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people's information and will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens," the statement said.
It added that chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg and their teams "are working around the clock to get all the facts and take the appropriate action moving forward, because they understand the seriousness of this issue."
6. Cambridge Analytica suspends CEO
Cambridge Analytica has suspended its chief executive as lawmakers demanded answers from the social media giant over the breach. Alexander Nix will stand aside pending an investigation into boasts he made to an undercover reporter about entrapping politicians and operating shadowy front companies "and other allegations", the company board said.
"In the view of the Board, Mr. Nix's recent comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 and other allegations do not represent the values or operations of the firm and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view this violation," the company said in a statement.
(With inputs from agencies)