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A federal investigation on Facebook could find Mark Zuckerberg directly responsible for any breach of privacy on the social network, according to a new report published in the Washington Post.
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Facebook for incorrect processing of user data on the platform, following the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018, in which data from tens of millions of Facebook users had been shared incorrectly with third parties.
Two sources in conversation with The Post said the FTC was considering "seeking a new, increased oversight" of Zuckerberg's leadership. La Poste had previously indicated that the FTC could also ask for a multi-billion dollar fine for the social network. Facebook said in a statement to The Post and Business Insider that he hoped to "reach a fair and appropriate resolution". The FTC declined to comment.
At least one legislator agrees with this idea. "The FTC should hold Mark Zuckerberg personally responsible in any consent order," said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said post reporter Tony Romm.
Although Facebook has already been reviewed by federal investigators, Zuckerberg has not been specifically targeted or sanctioned.
The investigation seeks to find out if Facebook violated the terms of an agreement reached in 2011 with the FTC, in particular the "Consent Decree," which essentially made Facebook accountable for transparency with users about how their Data were used on the platform violations punishable by huge fines. Facebook said in the past that he had not violated the consent decree.
But Zuckerberg's earlier comments on Facebook's privacy are under review, says The Post, and the FTC might try to send a message to corporate executives stating that they could be held accountable for the incidents of their business.
If the FTC decided to hold Zuckerberg personally responsible for Facebook's breaches of user privacy, this would represent a significant increase in the oversight of its executives.
It was a bad week for Facebook
This report follows Business Insider's recent revelations that Facebook has collected electronic contact lists of 1.5 million new users without their knowledge or permission.
A now-abandoned e-mail verification system, used by Facebook with new users, has led the technology giant to inadvertently collect email contact information from 1.5 million new users.
These contacts were used to "improve the targeting of ads on Facebook, create Facebook's social network and recommend friends to add," wrote Rob Price of Business Insider on Wednesday.
Business Insider experts said Facebook could violate various regulations, including the FTC's consent decree; the European Union's law on the protection of personal information known as the RGPD; and perhaps the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a US criminal law on computer fraud and abuse.
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