Facebook Says Facing Multiple Inquiries From US, UK Regulators on Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal

Advertisement
By Agence France-Presse | Updated: 4 July 2018 11:44 IST

Facebook acknowledged Tuesday it was facing multiple inquiries from US and British regulators about the major Cambridge Analytica user data scandal.

The leading social network offered no details but its admission confirmed reports of a widening investigation into the misuse of private data by Facebook and its partners.

Advertisement

"We are cooperating with officials in the US, UK and beyond," a Facebook spokesman said in response to an AFP query.

"We've provided public testimony, answered questions, and pledged to continue our assistance as their work continues."

Advertisement

The Washington Post reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission, and FBI as well as the Justice Department are looking into the massive breach of users' personal data and how the company handled it.

Facebook shares closed the shortened Nasdaq trading day down 2.35 percent to $192.73 (roughly Rs. 13,200), heading into an Independence Day holiday with investors mulling what effect the investigations may have on the California-based Internet giant.

Advertisement

Facebook has admitted that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by British consultancy Cambridge Analytica, which worked for US President Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign.

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg apologised to the European Parliament in May and said the social media giant is taking steps to prevent such a breach from happening again.

Advertisement

Zuckerberg said at a hearing in Brussels that it became clear in the last two years that Facebook executives didn't do enough to prevent the platform "from being used for harm."

Zuckerberg was grilled about the breach in US Congress in April.

It remains unclear what if any penalties Facebook may face from the latest requests but the tech giant is legally bound to comply with a 2011 consent decree with the FTC on protecting private user data.

Any SEC inquiry could look at whether Facebook adequately disclosed key information to investors.

 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Smartphones Launched in India (April 2026): Top Handsets Launched in April
  1. Amazon Now Expands to More Indian Cities With New Micro Warehouses
  2. Amazon Prime Day 2026 India Sale Set for July: Here’s What to Expect
  3. Bakkt Acquires DTR to Build Stablecoin Settlement Layer
  4. Samsung India Mobile Chief Raju Antony Pullan Steps Down; Aditya Babbar to Reportedly Lead MX Operations
  5. Oppo Reno 16, Reno 16 Pro Set to Launch Later This Month; Pre-Reservations Begin
  6. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Successor Might Skip the 3x Telephoto Rear Camera, Early Leak Suggests
  7. Drift Exploit Claims Its First Victim as DeFi Protocol Carrot Shuts Down
  8. Realme 16T Geekbench Listing Suggests Possible Performance Downgrade Over Realme 15T
  9. Microsoft Rolls Out Xbox Mode on Windows 11 PCs in Select Markets
  10. OnePlus, Nothing and More Smartphone Makers Reportedly Raise Prices of Their Mid-Range, Flagship Handsets as RAM Shortage Rages On
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.