By now, you’re probably aware that Cambridge Analytica, a private political consultancy, gained improper access to 71 million Facebook user accounts in the United States.
Because of this latest episode, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced two days of questioning by Congress. Zuckerberg answered numerous questions about Facebook’s privacy policies and what’s in place to protect their users.
He also answered “I don’t know” to a number of questions from the House Energy and Commerce Committee that one might think the Facebook CEO should know, including what kinds of information Facebook collects from its own users.
Beyond the Congressional grilling, Facebook may be on the hook for massive fines. At issue? Whether Facebook violated a 2011 consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission 2011.
In the decree, Facebook agreed to identify and address threats to user privacy. In an article in The Washington Post, David Vladeck, former head of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection stated, “ … the company was required to limit its sharing of user data and prevent outsiders from improperly gaining access.”
Vladeck added he believes the latest issue is a violation of the consent decree, and predicts Facebook could face fines of $1 billion or more.
So what’s the big deal? Facebook user profiles were scraped for information. Why should a Facebook user be concerned? This is a very big deal because criminals can match information, including phone numbers, emails, user photos and cities of residence, to steal identities or commit other types of fraud. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
There is a growing movement among Facebook users who are simply deleting their accounts (#DeleteFacebook). For many, that’s not an option. In that case, there are numerous articles from reputable sources that explain how you can protect your account and your information. We have provided a link to an excellent article from Heimdal Security that walks you through a step-by-step process of securing your account. But no matter what precautions you take, Facebook will still be able to collect data on you.
In the end, it’s important to remember: when the product is free, you are the product.
The Harris Firm, P.C. takes no position in regard to the use of Facebook by individuals and/or businesses. This article is being provided for informational purposes only.
