*pull collar, gulp*
Facebook has had its fair share of scandals (and outages) recent of late. But chief among them is their deals to sell data to various companies, e.g. Cambridge Analytica. But their current dealings with tech companies are what seems to have landed them in hot water. Because they’re currently under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors.
In New York, a grand jury subpoenaed records from two prominent smartphone makers. The companies had entered a partnership with Facebook, gaining access to the company’s data on millions of users. These companies weren’t alone in this, however. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Sony; there are over 150 companies that entered into a similar partnership with the social media giant for much the same purpose. The agreements allow these companies to see users’ personal data: friend, contact information, and so on, without the user’s consent.
Facebook has phased out most of these partnerships, however. Per a spokesperson:
We are cooperating with investigators and take those probes seriously. We’ve provided public testimony, answered questions and pledged that we will continue to do so.
As to when the investigation began is unclear. Considering that Facebook has been under investigation by several different entities, like Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, it might not become clear, either. They’re still under investigation for the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Regardless, these deals allowed a fair bit of monkey business at the expense of Facebook users. Microsoft’s Bing search engine used the data to map out those user’s friends. Apple was able to hide the fact that it was collecting data at all thanks to their agreement. And Amazon was able to obtain names and contact info through users’ friends.
Privacy advocates say that the deals violate a consent agreement Facebook made with the FTC in 2011. It certainly runs counter to Mark Zuckerberg’s claims that Facebook has clamped down on sharing the data on users friends with companies without those user’s consent. The FTC is currently figuring out the extent to which Facebook may have violated that agreement. Important, as it will alter the amount of the already multibillion-dollar fine; the largest the commission ever imposed.
Facebook defends the deals, stating that they were allowed under the agreement in a provision regarding service providers; companies acting as an extension of their network.
Facebook has spent the past year distancing themselves from the reputation of data misuse. Mark Zuckerberg recently announced plans to begin to move the platform from public sharing to private communication. As to how that will work out is anyone’s guess at this point.
Source: The New York Times
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