Facebook: Cambridge Analytica obtained data of 87 mln users

Anca Alexe 05/04/2018 | 10:37

Facebook’s chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer, revealed in a blog post yesterday that the data of up to 87 million of the social network’s users – 37 million more than initially reported – may have been improperly obtained by Cambridge Analytica.

Later in the day, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook didn’t take “a broad enough view” on their responsibilities and that it was “a huge mistake”. He also said that he is personally responsible for the data scandal, and that he is not looking to fire people for mistakes he made. Next week, Zuckerberg will be questioned by members of the US Congress.

In the blog post, CTO Mike Schroepfer outlined major changes Facebook would be making to protect user information, including in the way third parties can interact with the platform.

Zuckerberg also said that the same privacy controls will be available everywhere, not just in Europe, where the company will have to comply with the new general data protection regulation (GDPR).