Zuckerberg on sharing his personal info: ‘Um, uh, no’

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday sparred with lawmakers over how much control users of the world’s largest social media network have over their data in a sometimes fractious five-hour hearing.

“Every time that someone chooses to share something on Facebook … there is a control”.

Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg testifies during a US House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing about Facebook on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, April 11, 2018.

Earlier this week, Facebook began notifying millions of users that their personal data had been compromised.

Representative Eshoo called Facebook’s terms and conditions around privacy a “minefield” and repeatedly asked Mr Zuckerberg whether he was “aware of other data mishandlings which have not been disclosed”.

Senators also sought assurances that Facebook and other social media platforms are blocking fake profiles originating in Russian Federation that spread divisive messages to sow discord during and after the 2016 US election.

At certain points lawmakers grew exhausted of Zuckerberg’s evasiveness and rehearsed platitudes, with Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn accusing the 33-year-billionaire of trying to “filibuster” by wasting time with non-answers.

In March, Facebook suspended Cambridge Analytica from its platform after an investigation from The Observer of London and The New York Times revealed that the firm improperly accessed user data.

And “if you’ve messaged anybody this week, would you share with us the names of the people you’ve messaged?” the Illinois Democrat persisted. That can happen whether or not you’re a Facebook user.

Zuckerberg said he has not been personally interviewed and said he is not aware if the company has been subpoenaed. It had said that globally personal information of up to 87 million users may have been improperly shared with CA. The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requires us to do a few more things, and we’re going to extend that to the world, he told lawmakers.

Zuckerberg said it “is inevitable that there will need to be some regulation” of internet companies, an idea that has been floated by Republican and Democratic lawmakers. On Tuesday, he apologized and defended his company in a rare joint Senate session that lasted almost five hours. Facebook can charge more money the more specific the audience is. “The problem is if my friend uses that app and has my contact info, she’s consented and I haven’t, but Facebook still has my information”, she said.

The app was created by Aleksander Kogan and was able to access both personal and public information.

“By the end of this year we’ll have more than 20,000 people working on security and content review”, Zuckerberg said.

“In principle, I think that makes sense, and the details matter, and I look forward to having our team work with you on fleshing that out”, he said.