Technology Spotlight: Facebook Controversies

Technology+Spotlight%3A+Facebook+Controversies

Akif Abidi, Staff Writer

Facebook and CEO/founder Mark Zuckerberg is under condemnation by the media following the release of reports that Facebook allowed political data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica to gain access to data of users.

 

Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm, was working to develop techniques that could be used to influence voters. Facebook provided the firm with the confidential and private data of more than 50 million users without their permission.

 

Along with the already messy fiasco, Facebook is facing more dire allegations when Dylan Mckay, a New Zealand citizen, discovered the giant social media platform had stored about two years’ worth of phone call metadata from his Android phone in an archive, including names, phone numbers, and the length of each call made or received. Others Android phone users also followed suit and had the same revelation.

 

Facebook’s stock has been pummeled amid the scandal. The shares dropped nearly 7 percent on Monday, taking about $37 billion off the value of the company.

 

Due to the heavy accusations,  Zuckerberg has agreed to testify before U.S. Congress in the coming weeks.