Investigators broaden focus on Facebook's role in sharing data with Cambridge Analytica
Investigators broaden focus on Facebook's role in sharing
data with Cambridge Analytica
Craig Timberg, Elizabeth Dwoskin, Matt Zapotosky and
Devlin Barrett
Washington Post July 2, 2018 5:25 PM
A federal investigation into Facebook's sharing of data
with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica has broadened to focus on the
actions and statements of the tech giant and involves three agencies, including
the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to people familiar with the
official inquiries.
Representatives for the FBI, the SEC and the Federal
Trade Commission have joined the Justice Department in its inquiries about the
two companies and the sharing of personal information of 71 million Americans,
suggesting the wide-ranging nature of the investigation, said the people, who
spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a probe that remains incomplete.
These people added that the emphasis has been on what
Facebook has reported publicly about its sharing of information with Cambridge
Analytica, whether those representations square with the underlying facts and
whether Facebook made sufficiently complete and timely disclosures to the
public and investors about the matter. The Capitol Hill testimony of Facebook
officials, including chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, also is being scrutinized
as part of the probe, said people familiar with the federal inquiries.
Facebook confirmed that it had received questions from
the federal agencies and said it was sharing information and cooperating in
other ways. The Justice Department and the other federal agencies declined to
comment. The FTC in March disclosed that it was investigating Facebook over
possible privacy violations. Cambridge Analytica has closed operations since
the scandal erupted, and an inquiry to its press office was returned as
undeliverable.
The New York Times previously reported that the Justice
Department was investigating Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy that
worked for President Donald Trump and other Republican candidates. But the
extent of federal investigation into the actions and statements of Facebook
itself has not previously been revealed.
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