Facebook surveys led by the EU-Ireland regulator are drawing closer to their conclusions



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The Irish regulator, which conducts nearly a dozen surveys on Facebook, is not convinced by Mark Zuckerberg's argument about the protection of privacy.

The internet giant's shares fell on Wednesday after a report in The Wall Street Journal hinted that Facebook's boss was already aware of potential privacy issues arising from the practices. of the company.

In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Helen Dixon, Irish Data Protection Commissioner, said that "everything will remain to be seen" if Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerberg seriously consider moving to privacy and security .

In the meantime, Dixon said the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) would continue its investigations of Facebook and other US technology giants, as regulators around the world are monitoring them. more.

"Some Facebook surveys are likely to come in the coming months," Dixon told CNBC. She added having met and discussed with "a number of top executives of Facebook".

When asked if the Irish data protection authorities had been in contact with the regulators of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about a possible Facebook survey in the United States, Dixon responded "we had a few conversations"

"We all face the same problems in the different legal frameworks in which we operate with very similar objectives in terms of results and behavioral changes that we hope to lead," she said.

Last year, Facebook had to deal with violent reactions from politicians and regulators, following a series of scandals over privacy and data breaches. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg presented a "privacy-focused" future in March. Social media announced in April that they planned to pay up to $ 5 billion to the FTC for violation of the 2011 licensing order.

Facebook said in a statement on Wednesday that it was cooperating fully with the FTC's investigation and that "neither at any time, Mark or any other Facebook employee has knowingly violated the company's obligations under the consent order of the FTC ".

The Irish DPC is currently conducting eleven surveys on Facebook, its affiliates WhatsApp and Instagram. Inquiries range from obtaining Facebook user consent to notifying authorities of data breaches within 72 hours.

Since many large technology companies have their European headquarters in Ireland, the Irish DPC supervises companies under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The GDPR is a European law on the protection of privacy entered into force a year ago. It aims to give consumers more control over their personal information online, for example by allowing them to access their data and delete them. Companies that break the law can be subject to heavy fines: up to 4% of the annual global business turnover or 20 million euros ($ 22.6 million), depending on the amount The highest. For Facebook, this could result in a fine of more than $ 2 billion based on its revenue for fiscal year 2018.

Until now, the Dixon office has yet to impose any fine under the GDPR. Dixon said that "the fine will come in the event of an offense," but added that it was also essential for technology companies that break the law to change their behavior and set a precedent for them. other companies.

"Fines are definitely important, but they are only part of the picture," she said.

In addition to his Facebook surveys, Dixon said the DPC has launched a total of 20 investigations of multinational technology companies, including Apple, Google, and Alphabet. In the United States, she praised the debate over the influence of big tech companies on online bullying, misinformation and privacy.

"I think there is evidence that Cambridge Analytica has been a turning point in understanding the business model of monetizing their personal data and how they can be profiled and targeted at the micro", a- she declared.

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