Facebook risked a fine in the United Kingdom

Facebook has not finished paying the consequences of the Cambridge Analytica scandal. This Wednesday, the British regulator of data protection (ICO) announced its intention to impose a fine of 500,000 pounds (565,000 euros) on the company Mark Zuckerberg following this resounding case of theft of personal data.

The ICO opened an investigation in the aftermath of this scandal involving some 87 million users of the American social media giant, to shed light on possible interference with the referendum on the exit of the United Kingdom. Uni of the European Union of June 2016.

Derisory fine

In a statement released Wednesday, the ICO indicates that its investigation "concluded that Facebook had broken the law by failing to protect personal data. It also found that the company did not show transparency as to how the data of the people were collected by others. "

The regulator announces accordingly" its intention to impose a fine To Facebook for violation of the British Data Protection Act

At £ 500,000, the fine is a paltry amount for a juggernaut like Facebook. But, as ICO Director Elizabeth Denham points out, the key is elsewhere: "Fines and lawsuits punish bad actors, but my real goal is to bring about change and restore trust in our community. democratic system.

Stressing: "New technologies that use data badysis to target people give political campaigns the opportunity to connect with voters. But this can not be done at the expense of transparency, fairness and respect for the law.

Australia's turn?

The ICO says that the US giant has the opportunity to respond to this formal notice before a final decision is made. Erin Egan, Facebook privacy officer, said the group was "reviewing" the ICO's findings and would respond "soon."

"We worked closely with ICO in its investigation of Cambridge Analytica, just as we did with the authorities of the United States and other countries, "she said, while acknowledging the failures of Facebook:" We should have do more and take action in 2015. "

A mea culpa that should not be enough to stop the mechanics of judicial retaliation against Facebook around the world. In the wake of the ICO decision, the Australian funder Bentham IMF, which finances the litigation, joined forces with a large law firm and lodged an appeal with the Australian Information Commissariat (OAIO). ). The latter had opened an investigation in April and, depending on the outcome of this investigation, a clbad action could follow.

AFP Source