Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized over a growing data scandal in an interview Thursday, telling CNN’s Laurie Segall that the exposure of users’ data to political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica “was a major breach of trust,” and that he was “really sorry that this happened.”
“We have a basic responsibility to protect peoples’ data,” Zuckerberg said in an interview on Anderson Cooper 360.
Zuckerberg’s comments broke days of silence from the Facebook CEO following revelations that data mining firm Cambridge Analytica had obtained the personal data of 50 million Facebook users through third-party apps while working for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Facebook responded by banning the firm and its whistleblowing contractor Christopher Wylie, from its platform, but the affair has raised concerns about the overall security of Facebook’s two billion monthly users. Lawmakers in the U.S. and U.K. called for Zuckerberg to testify earlier this week about the incident. Investors also filed a federal lawsuit against Facebook this week, sending its stock tumbling. Zuckerberg said he would be “happy” to appear before Congress on Thursday.
But asked whether Facebook had a decisive impact on the 2016 presidential election, he deferred, saying it was “really hard for me to have a full assessment” of the network’s influence as distinct from off-line advertising and campaign events. However, he conceded that in 2016 “we were not on top of a number of issues as we should have, whether it was Russian interference or fake news.” Facebook has since announced new AI tools that help it identify “fake accounts” that “sow division” in public opinion.
“The reality here is that this isn’t rocket science,” he added, acknowledging that “there’s a lot of hard work that we need to do” to prevent manipulation of future elections, including upcoming U.S. midterms in November. “We’re really committed to doing everything we need to to make sure the integrity of those elections on Facebook is secure,” Zuckerberg told Segall.
He has also drawn criticism for sidestepping an outright apology in a previous interview this week with the New York Times and a public Facebook post, in which Zuckerberg called the scandal “a breach of trust between Facebook and the people who share their data with us,” but fell short of apologizing for the incident.
He amended those comments Thursday, telling CNN’s Seagall that Facebook made a “mistake” in 2015 after it was approached by the Guardian about a quiz app that was harvesting the data of tens of millions of users.
“I think that this was clearly a mistake in retrospect,” Zuckerberg said. “We need to make sure we don’t make that mistake ever again.”
He also promised that Facebook would build new apps to help users’ identify whether their data was compromised, by Cambridge Analytica and in the future, and promised an “intensive process” of reviewing questionable third-party activity on the social network.
“I regret that we didn’t do at the time and I think we got that wrong and we are committed to getting that right going forward,” he said.
As an expert deeply immersed in the realm of technology, data privacy, and social media dynamics, I can attest to the intricate web of challenges that arise when managing vast amounts of user data. With a background encompassing the intersection of technology and society, I've closely followed the developments in the digital landscape, including the evolution of social media platforms like Facebook.
Mark Zuckerberg's recent apology in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal reflects a watershed moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding data privacy and the responsibilities of tech giants. The evidence of this breach, where personal data from 50 million Facebook users was exploited by a political consulting firm, underscores the critical need for robust data protection measures.
Zuckerberg's acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation and his admission of a "major breach of trust" align with the growing concerns over the security of user data on Facebook. This incident has not only led to the ban of Cambridge Analytica and associated individuals from the platform but has also prompted legal actions, such as the federal lawsuit filed by investors, impacting Facebook's stock.
Lawmakers in both the U.S. and the U.K. have called for Zuckerberg to testify, highlighting the global implications of data misuse. The incident raises questions not only about Facebook's immediate response but also about the broader issue of safeguarding the data of the platform's two billion monthly users.
Zuckerberg's commitment to addressing the situation is evident in his willingness to appear before Congress and the steps Facebook has taken, including the development of new AI tools to identify and counteract "fake accounts" that manipulate public opinion. The acknowledgment of shortcomings in addressing issues like Russian interference and fake news during the 2016 presidential election demonstrates a reflective approach.
Furthermore, Zuckerberg's recognition of the 2015 "mistake" involving the data-harvesting quiz app, along with a pledge to prevent such errors in the future, speaks to the company's evolving stance on data protection. The promise to build new apps for users to identify compromised data and to conduct an "intensive process" reviewing third-party activity indicates a proactive effort to regain user trust and strengthen the integrity of future elections on the platform.
In conclusion, the Facebook CEO's response to the data scandal reflects a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by the platform, coupled with a commitment to rectify past mistakes and fortify the defense against future threats to user privacy and data security.
