Facebook on the Hotseat! Day 2

Today was “Facebook on the Hotseat, Day 2” and there were even more shocking revelations.

Once again, with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in front of a full Congress at the House Energy and Commerce Committee, facts were exposed about Facebook that absolutely stunned me in my tracks.

During the hearing it was revealed that a woman who has been using Facebook since its inception by the name of Sara Ashley O’Brien downloaded her 14-year Facebook history and found that Facebook had access to a litany of personal details from her past, which included:

• Her late grandmother’s telephone number – who never used Facebook
• Conversations with an ex whom she had unfriended
• Several brands had Sara on their advertising lists whom she never signed up with, had access to all her information

Yesterday was a terrible day for Mark Zuckerberg, and today was even worse.

True to form, he repeated his lame apology offered from the previous day’s hearing that Facebook “…made a big mistake by not taking a broader view of our responsibilities” to its users concerning their privacy.

He faltered when pressed by Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey for a simple “yes” or “no” answer on whether Facebook would commit to changing its default settings to minimize personal data collection.

The Facebook CEO replied, “This is a complex issue that deserves more than a one-word answer” and Pallone called out Zuckerberg’s response as “…very disappointing.”

Zuckerberg was also pelted with other tough statements by Congress. Here is Rep. David McKinley who excoriated him by stating Zuckerberg and Facebook were “hurting people by enabling the illegal sale of opioids on the platform.”

Opioid drug overdoses killed more Americans in 2016 than the entire Vietnam War (58,000 deaths). It has been proven statistically to be the cause of 65,000 deaths in the U.S. including the deaths of pop icon Prince.

Here is a link to a YouTube video for information on the subject. Drug Overdoses Killed More Americans Than the Entire Vietnam War Did

Facebook Shares Boatloads of YOUR Personal Data

How much data does Facebook collect from its users – and non-users? Boatloads!

A great deal was revealed when congress woman Rep. Kathy Castor drilled the Facebook CEO, head-on, forcing Zuckerberg to acknowledge that Facebook collects data from users even when they’re not on Facebook and not even logged into the platform.

Then, Rep. Ben Lujan got Zuckerberg to admit that Facebook goes so far as to collect personal data from some people who have not even signed up for Facebook, for the reason of “security purposes.”

Talk about “Big Brother” watching. Quite disturbing.

Multiple different legislators also raised the prospect that Facebook’s data policies with third-party apps violated a 2011 agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after a prior privacy complaint. If so, Facebook could be subject to a minimum of hefty fines.

The FTC is now conducting a massive investigation on Facebook.

Facebook Shares YOUR Personal Data…and They Need Your Data

Today on Day 2, Mark Zuckerberg continued to evade lawmaker’s questions by stating he would “follow up later”, and the reason to me was very obvious: Zuckerberg doesn’t want to talk about it because he fears regulation that would curb Facebook’s ability to track data on third-party apps.

The extent of Facebook’s data collection is ultimately the core concern of Facebook’s business.

If Facebook were to be forced to stop collecting YOUR data, it would undermine its entire business model. Facebook generates $40 billion dollars in advertising revenue annually because it offers brands YOUR personal data that gives them an unparalleled ability to target consumers.

Without such data, advertisers would pull out of Facebook “in droves”.

Goodbye advertisers, goodbye Facebook!

Currently, the United States is so far behind Europe and Australia in protecting the privacy rights its online users. Next month, the European Union of countries will introduce the General Data Protection Regulation (GDRR), which will give European users greater control over their data, including a clear and obvious option to choose who has access to their data.

Until this congressional hearing, the U.S Congress appeared a long way away from introducing similar legislation to protect its users.

So let’s continue the conversation from yesterday.

Did you happen to watch or read about today’s Day 2 Facebook debacle that has been entrenching the online world?

What are your observations?

Given further evidence that has surfaced today against Facebook at the congressional hearing, do you feel it is now more likely that regulations on the internet and across all social media will be implemented?

Has your opinion changed about Mark Zuckerberg?

Or has it remained the same?

Please feel free to comment and engage in the further discussion here.

Thanks to ALL for your valuable input!

Cheers,

Kaju