In scandal over misuse of data of millions of Facebook users, Federal Minister Katarina Barley (SPD) has reprimanded company and demanded consequences at European level. "Facebook is a network of intransparency," said Barley. "Ethical beliefs fall prey to commercial interests." Facebook lives from trust of its users. "Facebook has gambled this trust," said Barley.
Social networks need clear rules. "We will check wher possibilities of new European Data Protection regulation are sufficient," she said. In May, EU Data Protection Regulation will enter into force to limit disclosure of information to users of Facebook and or social networks. Barley demanded that Facebook should also expose functioning of its algorithms to authorities in EU.
The scandal is about illicit use of information from millions of Facebook users by data analysis company Cambridge Analytica. As Facebook shared, data could be affected by up to 87 million people – instead, as previously thought, that of about 50 million people.
The vast majority of affected users refore come from USA. In Germany, up to 310,000 Facebook users may be affected. The discussion of data misuse also concerns role of Cambridge Analytica's data in US campaign of n presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Barley warned that Enlightenment should not remain in case of Cambridge Analytica. "It must be clarified wher or app operators have abused user and contact data on a large scale." It is time for a clear response from EU states.
Criticism from opposition and European CommissionGreen Network expert Konstantin von Notz accused federal government of failure. "For years, federal government has deliberately refrained from insisting on observance of law and law towards Facebook and or market-powerful players," said deputy Group chairman. Instead, companies were clearly signaled that ir refusal was tolerated and that y had nothing to fear.
The EU Commission is also criticizing escalation of data scandal on Facebook: The continued misuse of personal data of Facebook users is unacceptable, said a Commission spokesman. Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova had already asked for clarification and set a deadline before new dimension of Facebook manager Sheryl Sandberg became known. Facebook n signalled his willingness to cooperate. A high-level meeting between Brussels authority and US group is planned for next few days. Orwise, Commission will be in contact with British data protection authorities, which will carry out investigation in case, and US government.
Date Of Update: 06 April 2018, 12:03
