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John Oliver made his own version of Facebook’s ‘we're sorry’ video
In April, after the Cambridge Analytica scandal erupted, Facebook put out an ad that was meant to reassure users about how their data would be treated going forward. Dubbed the "Here Together" ad, the video points to some of the issues that have come along with Facebook, like spam, clickbait and fake news, though the closest it gets to actually acknowledging the Cambridge Analytica debacle is noting "data misuse." "Facebook will do more to keep you safe and protect your privacy," said the ad. Well last week, Facebook's stock prices plummeted, knocking off around $120 billion in market value from the social media giant and inspiring John Oliver to tweak the ad just a bit.
Georgia congressman is the latest to introduce data privacy bills
Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) announced today that he's introducing two bills that address digital privacy, one that specifically focuses on data privacy on mobile devices and another that would allow consumers to opt out of data collection. In a press release, he noted that the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed how little control consumers have over their digital data and highlighted evidence that US residents want more. "Privacy is an issue that should unite us, not drive us apart," Johnson said in a statement. "We have fully entered the era of big data, and consumers access the internet through mobile devices now more than ever. It's past time our laws to reflect this reality through common sense rules for data collection, transparency and use."
Despite scandals, Facebook is still raking in cash and users
It's no secret that 2018 has been quite a rocky year for Facebook, after controversies over the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal and, most recently, its handling of fake news on the platform. But, despite these troubling issues, the company's bottom line hasn't been affected -- it made $12 billion during the last quarter alone. And today, Facebook reported a total revenue of $13.23 billion in Q2 2018, a 42 percent year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, daily and monthly active user numbers are still growing, though they didn't jump by much compared to Q1 2018. Monthly users are now at 2.23 billion, only up 1.54 percent from the last quarter.
Facebook's top lawyer is leaving the company
Facebook's week has taken another turn for the worse. The social network's general counsel Colin Stretch (above) has announced he's leaving the company by year's end, according to The Wall Street Journal. Stretch testified during the hearings in Washington, DC last November and has been with the company since 2010. He made the announcement via his Facebook page, saying that his departure was the result of logistics. A few years ago Stretch moved to Washington DC and apparently the differences in time zones and working with his team shaped the decision.
Facebook's outgoing security chief sent a damning company-wide memo
Facebook's outgoing security chief, Alex Stamos, sent a damning internal memo just days after the Cambridge Analytica scandal came to light, urging the company to "intentionally not collect data where possible, and to keep it only as long as we are using it to serve people." The note, titled "A Difficult Week" and dated March 23, states, "We need to listen to people (including internally) when they tell us a feature is creepy or point out a negative impact we are having in the world.
Facebook could have another Cambridge Analytica on its hands
Facebook has suspended a Boston-based analytics firm from both Facebook and Instagram as it investigates the company's data collection practices, the Wall Street Journal reports. Facebook said that so far, it hasn't found any evidence that the company has improperly obtained any Facebook or Instagram information, but it would be looking into whether Crimson Hexagon violated any of its policies on how to collect, share and store user data. "We don't allow developers to build surveillance tools using information from Facebook or Instagram," Facebook told Engadget. "We take these allegations seriously, and we have suspended these apps while we investigate."
SEC is reportedly investigating how Facebook disclosed data scandal
Earlier this month, news emerged that the Securities and Exchange Commission had started its own probe into Facebook. Today, Sources told The Wall Street Journal that the SEC is specifically looking into whether the social media giant should have informed shareholders when it learned back in 2015 that Cambridge Analytica had improperly acquired data of 86 million users from researcher Aleksandr Kogan the year before.
Facebook faces £500k fine for Cambridge Analytica scandal
Several months after the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica scandal broke, it seems like the social network will finally have to pay up. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) fined Zuckerberg and Co. a preliminary amount of $664,000 (or 500,000 pounds) for lacking proper privacy protections and allowing the scandal to take place despite significant warning signs. The amount is the maximum allowed by law.
FBI, SEC and FTC are also investigating Facebook's data leak
Facebook has to deal with multiple federal agencies simultaneously investigating its role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. According to The Washington Post, the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have joined the DOJ's probe into the two companies. The New York Times reported back in May that the FBI and the DOJ are looking into the political consulting firm, but it sounds like the probe is much bigger than that.
Facebook puts more limits on developer access to user data
Today, Facebook announced new API restrictions for apps. These changes are intended to continue helping developers create apps that the Facebook user base enjoys while also protecting the data and privacy of people using Facebook.
How France beat Russian meddling (and we could, too)
Since we're all expecting Kanye West to be a Supreme Court justice by Monday, it will surprise no one to find out that the completely normal, perfectly-operating administration in the White House is blowing off a new threat of interference and hacking in the upcoming elections. "Robert Mueller and the nation's top intelligence official say Russia is trying to interfere in the midterm elections," Politico reported, "but Republican and Democratic lawmakers say the Trump administration is keeping them in the dark about whether the U.S. is ready."
Congress questions data firm led by ex-Cambridge Analytica employee
The Congress wants to know where new data and behavioral science company Data Propria gets its information and how it uses whatever it collects. Not just because it resembles Cambridge Analytica, but also because it was founded by former Cambridge Analytica employee Matt Oczkowski. Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have sent a letter to Oczkowski demanding to know whether his company is in possession of any data collected by Aleksandr Kogan. If you'll recall, Kogan was the researcher who built the personality quiz app that collected data from Facebook users, which he then sold to Cambridge Analytica.
Facebook says Cambridge Analytica may not have accessed EU user data
Even after Cambridge Analytica shut down in early May, Facebook is still answering questions about the data it did (or didn't) hand over to the firm. At a hearing with European Union lawmakers today, two executives from the social media titan said that to the best of their knowledge, no EU user's information had been shared with Cambridge Analytica.
California bill could be a major boost to personal data privacy
California legislators have introduced a bill that would give the state's residents more control over their online data and notably, would take the place of a proposed ballot measure that has been rigorously opposed by tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft. The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Ed Chau (D) and state Senator Robert Hertzberg (D) and is the result of a deal stuck between lawmakers, stakeholders and Alastair Mactaggart -- the California real estate developer and chair of Californians for Consumer Privacy who introduced the ballot initiative. "This legislation, like the initiative, would provide simple, powerful rights to Californians: tell me what you know about me. Stop selling it. Keep it safe," he said in a statement.
Facebook wants to help small businesses protect your privacy
Data privacy is a continually growing concern in the wake of news of election tampering and Cambridge Analytica scandals. As the EU's General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) take full effect, it's not only big corporations that need to be wary of protecting their users' privacy. Facebook is now partnering with TeachPrivacy in the US for community events held to train small and medium businesses on ten specific things they need to know about customer data protection. Sessions will be held in Baltimore, New Orleans, San Diego, Palo Alto and Edison, New Jersey. Facebook is working with the Promontory consulting group to train folks in the EU, as well.
Trump’s 2020 campaign might include ex-Cambridge Analytica staff
A handful of former Cambridge Analytica employees might be working on Donald Trump's re-election campaign. The Associated Press reports that two of its reporters overheard Matt Oczkowski, Cambridge Analytica's former head of product, say that he and the firm he now leads were "doing the president's work for 2020" alongside Trump's 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale. A source familiar with that company, Data Propria, told the AP that work on the campaign had already begun.
Senate set to call Cambridge Analytica data leaker to testify
The US Senate Commerce Committee wants to question a former Cambridge Analytica contractor over the Facebook data scandal, reports Reuters. The Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security subcommittee is holding a privacy hearing on Tuesday related to Cambridge Analytica, and it will call Aleksandr Kogan to testify, according to the report.
Senator wants Mark Zuckerberg to testify on Huawei data sharing
Mark Zuckerberg could be in for another Senate hearing if Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) has his way. Today, Markey sent a letter to Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) -- chair and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, respectively -- requesting they call the Facebook CEO to testify about Facebook's practice of sharing private user data with mobile phone companies. Specifically, Markey is concerned about the data provided to four Chinese companies -- Huawei, Lenovo, Oppo and TCL.
Cambridge Analytica CEO reportedly embezzled $8 million
If you thought the Cambridge Analytica saga was over with the company's shut down and filing for bankruptcy, you were definitely wrong. According to The Financial Times, the company's former CEO Alexander Nix has been accused of stealing $8 million dollars from Cambridge Analytica before its demise.
Facebook suggests Europeans won't be compensated for data fiasco
Apparently, people in the European Union expected a payout from Facebook following the Cambridge Analytica data fiasco. "This was clearly a breach of trust," the social network said in a statement to Reuters. "However, it's important to remember that no bank account details, credit card information or national ID numbers were shared." As a result, there won't be a payout to the 2.7 million users whose accounts were affected. Unlike the US, Cambridge Analytica didn't sell information on EU users, Facebook admitted.
