Facebook Sued by California Over User-Data Practices Subpoenas

California revealed for the first time an 18-month investigation into Facebook's privacy practices and accused the social media giant in a court filing on Wednesday of hampering the investigation. From a report: Revelation of the probe is the latest bad news for Facebook, which is already under investigation by 47 U.S. states. Some states, particularly New York and Nebraska, have raised concerns that Facebook and other big tech companies engage in anti-competitive practices, expose consumer data to potential data theft and push up advertising prices. Facebook had no immediate comment. The Facebook investigations are part of a larger landscape of probes of big tech firms by the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. California's investigation began in 2018 as a probe into the Cambridge Analytica scandal but "expanded over time to an investigation into whether Facebook has violated California law, by among other things, deceiving users and ignoring its own policies in allowing third parties broad access to user data," the agency said in a court filing.

The cost of being in the Data Business

[jellomizer]

As much as these tech companies want to be fast and nimble. When your company holds and distributes data that affects peoples lives, there is going to need a degree of responsibility with such data. Including protecting from and sharing it with sometimes seemingly the same group of people.

If you were to talk to me in 2005 about Facebook and Google, I would say the content they showed isn't their responsibility as they just show what others say and what they are thinking. Having the government Subpoena the data and force them to block content would be a violation of free speech, privacy and just a bad thing.

However now much of these data that is shared and is influencing people is often generated not by someones point of view. but from a carefully calculated material designed to get the attention of the largest group of people, and make them feel like they will need to act on something which they normally wouldn't have. Manipulating the system algorithms to promote false ideas. Vs being a system of open discourse.

As these companies have grown and have a large and easily targeted user base. They have a responsibility to be good stewards of the data they have and what is shown and viewed, as well constantly vigilant on people who are tricking the system in place. Yes this is expensive for the companies. However like other businesses there is a cost to be doing business. Airlines need to make sure their fleet is in safe working order, Hospitals need to make sure their equipment is clean and sanitary. The factory needs to make sure their products meets the specification they say it is. It adds to the cost of doing business, but it is a necessary component to make sure the business is running for the general good.

Re:

[Mister Transistor]

Don't fret! Your "shadow" profile account has been "shadow banned". :)

People don't understand Facebook

[Waitfor1t]

You can close your account all you want... they will still track you and store the sites you visit unless you are very diligent with your filtering. Facebook is in a boatload of trouble, IMO, because they don't have the same protection Equifax had, and every equifax exec should have been thrown in prison.