The latest report on the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook scandal is a Brazil fine of $1.65 Million. It seems that Facebook and by extension, Mark Zuckerberg will not see the end of the privacy abuse scandal caused by the Cambridge Analytica.
Countries like Britain and Italy have fined Facebook for this same security breach. Now, Brazil is the latest to draw blood from the company.
Yesterday, 30th December 2019, the South American country demanded payment from the tech giant. In a report, the Ministry of Justice claimed that 443,000 Facebook accounts of Brazilians were made available to developers of “This Is Your Digital Life”.
The Cambridge Analytica used the app to collect data of Facebook users and create targeted ads to aid Trump’s campaign. Many experts tie Trump’s presidential win to the success of the app.
Also, it is fingered as being the determinant of the outcome of the Brexit voting in Britain. However, Facebook had admitted that the number of users exposed to this illegal ‘psychological survey’ could be as high as 87 million.
Despite its focus being in Britain and the United States; Brazil also entered the scene to fine Facebook. The authorities report that they had gotten wind that some users in the country were likely also exposed.
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Although, Facebook has since announced that it has stepped up security and made some changes. As the company spokesperson said:
“We have made changes to our platform and restricted the information accessible to app developers.”
Brazilian authorities are still insistent on the fact that they have a case. Facebook had responded that there was no evidence that the Cambridge Analytica collected data from Brazil.
Yet, the Ministry of Justice insisted that the company had not given citizens adequate information on what the default privacy settings mean.
Now, Facebook has just 10 days to put an appeal together. Further, if the case stands, the company will have to pay within 30 days, as the reports claim.
But the social media giants are not showing fatigue from their regular legal issues. There is also internal strife with employees as well. Despite all these, it keeps making giant strides, acquiring new businesses and expanding.
We wait to see what the new year will bring for Facebook.
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