Facebook charged over $0.6mn fine for Cambridge Analytica

Ever since Facebook’s popular Cambridge Analytica scandal, the firm wasn’t charged any fine, but recent reports suggest that the social network will finally have to pay.

According to reports, UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has finally fined Zuckerberg and Co. a preliminary charge of $664,000 for lacking accurate privacy protections and letting the Cambridge Analytica take place regardless of vital warning signs.

“Facebook has failed to provide the kind of protections they are required to under the Data Protection Act. Fines and prosecutions punish the bad actors, but my real goal is to effect change and restore trust and confidence in our democratic system,” Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said, The Guardian reported.

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As per Washington Post, the amount was the maximum permitted by the law. Yet, the charge is not final and has the possibility to change depending on any further discussions from Facebook. Facebook’s chief privacy officer, Erin Egan said, “We have been working closely with the ICO in their investigation of Cambridge Analytica, just as we have with authorities in the US and other countries. We’re reviewing the report and will respond to the ICO soon.”

The ICO put the blame of the data breach scandal on Facebook, saying that the firm allowed researcher Aleksandr Kogan to gather data about Facebook users via the app without informing them. ICO is also considering on penalizing former chief executive of Cambridge Analytica, Alexander Nix, wrote Engadget.

In the report, Denham described the inquiry as the most important investigation by the ICO and also reported that the Commission found a ‘shortfall in transparency’ from various companies that are involved in user’s data collection. “Whilst these concerns about Facebook’s advertising model exist generally in relation to its commercial use, they are heightened when these tools are used for political campaigning.”