Facebook Faces U.K. Fine Over Cambridge Analytica Inquiry
Facebook Inc. could be fined 500,000 pounds ($664,000) by the U.K.’s privacy regulator after the social-network giant failed to prevent key user data falling into the hands of a political consultancy that helped get President Donald Trump elected.
The U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office is threatening the company with the maximum penalty allowed, it said Wednesday when issuing its first findings in a probe that looked at some 30 organizations, including social-media platforms such as Facebook. The tech giant is accused of not properly protecting user data and not sharing how people’s data was harvested by others.
“Facebook has failed to provide the kinds of protections they’re required to do under data protection laws,” Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said on a call with reporters. The fine “sends a clear signal that I consider this a significant issue, especially when you look at the scale and the impact of this kind of data breach.”fullstory