Privacy Groups Urge Facebook to End Political Donations
Consumer Watchdog and other privacy groups said Facebook should end campaign contributions and “electioneering,” and hire an independent auditor to monitor the platform’s use of personal data in relation to election advertisements (see 1803270043). Facebook should be barred from election efforts, given the platform’s influence over the U.S. electorate, said Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court during a conference call Wednesday. “This is all about stealing America,” Court said, accusing Facebook of allowing the personal data of 50 million Americans to improperly fall into the hands of Cambridge Analytica, which he described as electioneers.
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The group noted that in 2016, Facebook contributed $4.6 million to federal candidates and $1.1 million to California candidates. Last month, Facebook spent $200,000 in opposition to the California Consumer Privacy Act, which would require platforms to disclose details on personal data collection, allow users to block the sale of data, and hold companies liable for breaches of personal data stemming from “corporate negligence.” If Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg were sincere about what he said in response to the recent scandal (see 1803210058), the company would support the California measure, said Privacy Project Director John Simpson.
Facebook didn’t comment about the group’s recommendations, which were included in a letter signed by the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Federation of California and Californians for Privacy, among others. But Facebook announced new updates Wednesday for the website and mobile application concerning privacy and data. A privacy feature redesign for mobile devices, a new tool for users to access and delete personal data, and plans to update terms of service and data policies in the coming weeks are among changes Facebook announced Wednesday in response to the controversy.
The privacy feature redesign adjusts the setting to make it clear “what information can and can’t be shared with apps,” Facebook said, and a new privacy shortcut menu will mean better access to information about privacy, security and ads. A new “Access Your Information” feature will allow a “secure way for people to access and manage their information, such as posts, reactions, comments, and things you’ve searched for,” Facebook said. Users also can delete data from their timeline or profile using the feature. The update to Facebook’s terms of service includes the platform’s “commitment to people,” and a revamped data policy will “better spell out what data we collect and how we use it.”
Public Knowledge Policy Fellow Dylan Gilbert said Facebook’s updates will “not give consumers an effective means to redress any future harms that might occur from the misuse of data that they don't port away or delete,” and Facebook could make future changes at any time. The group urged Congress to offer a legislative fix that offers “meaningful notice and consent for data retention and sharing” and the opportunity for “meaningful recourse” when data is abused.
Court said Facebook’s announcement is a “welcome change,” but it doesn’t address the heart of the problem, saying the platform’s business model offers first-class tickets on the Titanic. Consumer Watchdog recommended Facebook retain Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center to monitor user data practices for election advertising. Facebook users should understand they're not Facebook customers, Simpson said. Users are the product, and Facebook is making every effort to maximize product sales, he argued.
Zuckerberg’s expected appearance before Congress should be a teachable moment for policymakers and the public, wrote American Enterprise Institute columnist James Pethokoukis Tuesday. With an opportunity to “stem the burgeoning techlash,” Pethokoukis suggested Zuckerberg explain to Congress how society is benefiting from data sharing on social media, how the platform’s business model works and what changes are coming for users to better control their data. “The takeaway by Congress and Facebook users must be that Zuckerberg fully understands and takes seriously the important role his company plays in America life,” Pethokoukis wrote.