UK data watchdog hits Facebook with maximum fine over Brexit breaches
‘Trust in the integrity of our democratic processes risks being disrupted because the average voter has little idea of what is going on behind the scenes’
London — Britain’s data regulator will fine Facebook £500,000 for failing to protect users’ data, in an inquiry into whether personal information was misused by campaigns on both sides of Britain’s 2016 Brexit referendum. An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has focused on the social media giant since earlier this year, when evidence emerged that an app had been used to harvest the data of tens of millions of Facebook users worldwide. In a progress report early on Wednesday the watchdog said it plans to issue Facebook with the maximum fine available to it for breaches of the Data Protection Act. "The ICO’s investigation concluded that Facebook contravened the law by failing to safeguard people’s information," it said. The company "failed to be transparent about how people’s data was harvested by others", it said. Facebook has admitted that up to 87-million users may have had their data hijacked by British consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica, which was wor...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.