US May Slap Facebook With Multi-Billion Dollar Fine For Leaking Personal Data - Reports

Daniyal Sohail Published February 15, 2019 | 04:42 PM

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Facebook are in talks concerning a multi-billion dollar fine for failing to properly protect personal data of the social network's users, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing two well-informed sources.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th February, 2019) The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Facebook are in talks concerning a multi-billion Dollar fine for failing to properly protect personal data of the social network's users, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing two well-informed sources.

According to the publication, the parties are still discussing the exact size of the fine, but if the negotiations fail, the trade commission may refer the case to court.

This penalty could be the biggest FTC fine ever imposed on a technology company. The previous record stands at $22.5 million paid by Google in 2012.

Facebook confirmed to the newspaper its participation in the negotiations, but declined any further comments.

The FTC also declined to comment on the issue.

The FTC launched an investigation against Facebook in March 2018 after it emerged that personal data of about 87 million users had been harvested by research firm Cambridge Analytica without their permission via a special app. On the basis of the data obtained, the researchers evaluated the political preferences of voters and showed them political ads based on their interests.

Facebook is also accused of violating the 2011 agreement, under which it obliged to notify users and ask their permission to transfer their data to third-party applications. Facebook has been repeatedly accused of violating this clause, but the company denies the allegations.