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UK Officials Will Summon Mark Zuckerberg To Testify if He Won't Do So Voluntarily (cnbc.com)

UK officials said Tuesday they will summon Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Parliament the next time he's in British territory if he does not volunteer to do so. From a report: It would be the first governmental summons for Zuckerberg in the fallout of the Cambridge Analytica data leak and widespread concerns around user privacy. "It's worth noting that, while Mr. Zuckerberg does not normally come under the jurisdiction of the UK Parliament, he will do so the next time he enters the country," Damian Collins, a member of the UK Parliament, wrote in a letter published Tuesday. "There are over 40 million Facebook users in the UK and they deserve to hear accurate answers from the company he created and whether it is able to keep their users' data safe," Collins wrote.

145 comments

  1. Summon? by Kenja · · Score: 5, Funny

    So... like they draw a pentagram, hold hands and say his name three times while looking in the mirror? Does that work?

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:Summon? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's true that he can easily evade this if he wants to, although it is kinda embarrassing to be effectively barred from visiting a country because you don't want to answer questions about the scandals you presided over.

      Considering how well he came off from the US hearings I think he might come. Our MPs are pretty tame really.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    2. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It always worked for me. And Zuck is way eviler than I am.

    3. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Our MPs are pretty tame really.

      I can just imagine his team briefing him.

      If one human shouts 'here here', ingest 1.1 ounces of liquid from provided receptacle.
      If the entire room starts to 'harrumph', ingest 3.6 ounces of liquid from provided receptacle.

    4. Re:Summon? by Muros · · Score: 3, Funny

      I thought they just wave their wand and say "Accio Zuckerberg"

    5. Re:Summon? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3, Funny

      So... like they draw a pentagram, hold hands and say his name three times while looking in the mirror? Does that work?

      Don't be ridiculous! You draw a magic circle (using salt) around your smartphone then poke Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook three times while chanting, "Friend me, Zuck." ;)

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    6. Re:Summon? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Considering how well he came off from the US hearings I think he might come. Our MPs are pretty tame really.

      On the other hand, he hasn't already donated to the majority of them so they might be somewhat less tame.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    7. Re:Summon? by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Or, the UK blocks FB and FB loses tens of millions of subscribers overnight. I mean, sure that's small in the scheme of FB, but it's still a lot of money.

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    8. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's true that he can easily evade this if he wants to, although it is kinda embarrassing to be effectively barred from visiting a country because you don't want to answer questions about the scandals you presided over.

      They can probably do a bit more than prevent him from visiting.
      Not being allowed to do business in the UK would be a bit of a downer for Zuckerberg.

    9. Re:Summon? by jenningsthecat · · Score: 2

      It's true that he can easily evade this if he wants to, although it is kinda embarrassing to be effectively barred from visiting a country because you don't want to answer questions about the scandals you presided over.

      I think it's a little more than just embarrassing. The optics of him NOT going are pretty dismal - especially given Facebook's implicit reliance on the 'if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear' meme. If he has nothing to hide, why shouldn't he just go and face the British parliament?

      Besides, if things start to get rough, he can always call out the British government on its own extensive surveillance network and its own privacy-busting legislation.

      --
      'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
    10. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Re-read the article. It isn't just England, it's that and any of the territories.

    11. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Our MPs are pretty tame really.

      That rowdy flock of pirates who might be wizards as well? Zuck is in a bit of a puddle, I say.

    12. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's a different ministry.

    13. Re:Summon? by sabri · · Score: 1

      Not being allowed to do business in the UK would be a bit of a downer for Zuckerberg.

      Except that Facebook or any of its subsidiaries are not directly owned by Mark Z anymore.

      Why would he even consider entering that Police State where people are locked up for "offensive" tweets? He'd be smart to ignore that small island that's no longer even EU anymore.

      --
      I'm not a complete idiot... Some parts are missing.
    14. Re:Summon? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      On the other hand, he hasn't already donated to the majority of them so they might be somewhat less tame.

      If they're not any better-versed in technological issues, it won't matter. He'll spend the whole time explaining simple concepts to them and they won't get to ask any good questions.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    15. Re:Summon? by VeryFluffyBunny · · Score: 1

      If a warrant for questioning is put out in any EU country (and the UK is still in the EU), Zuckerberg can be arrested and extradited from any EU country back to the UK.

      --
      Debate is a form of harassment. Do not question my truth.
    16. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And nobody in the UK would complain?

    17. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, that does not work on robots.

    18. Re:Summon? by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      APK APK APK.

      Maybe doesn't work for Zuck, but you can summon other demons that way.

    19. Re:Summon? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Our MPs are pretty tame really.

      Yvette Cooper bloody well isn't.

      Just ask Amber Rudd.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    20. Re:Summon? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      He'll spend the whole time explaining simple concepts to them

      What makes you think *he* understands?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    21. Re:Summon? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Rudd was fucked over by being made May's shield. Anyone who hitches themselves to her mast eventually lives to regret it.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    22. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Better than that other police state that locks up a guy for 15 months for helping people get the software they have paid for already:
      https://www.extremetech.com/computing/268300-man-gets-15-month-prison-sentence-microsoft-windows-restore

      Better that that other police state that invades foreign countries for suspected copyright violation:
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Dotcom

      Please, you are all locked up in the "land of the free"

    23. Re:Summon? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      That may (sorry) well be true. Let's hope so - might knock some of the smugness out of Humpty Dumpty.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    24. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being wanted by a select committee is completely different from being wanted in connection to a crime. It's debatable whether or not Zuckerberg could even be charged with contempt of parliament, which is the relevant offence.

    25. Re:Summon? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      He's just waiting for her to fail.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    26. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the other hand, he hasn't already donated to the majority of them so they might be somewhat less tame.

      If they're not any better-versed in technological issues, it won't matter. He'll spend the whole time explaining simple concepts to them and they won't get to ask any good questions.

      Even for inconsequential (in the nation-wide scheme of things) court cases you can have "expert witnesses" well-versed in non-computer topics to be "called to the stand" to confirm or deny situations. We were effectively treated to a bunch of lawyers and bureaucrats who were asking a technical CEO technical questions way beyond their realm of expertise (such as the "shadow profile" one). It bothers me for the hearings the government did not dare to prevent "cheating", as it were, when taking a world-influencing technical company to answer questions whose answers were bound to require review, especially in front of the general public. It's not like I being a defendant have the power to reject being subjected to an expert witness to refute my lies in a real court. This here just shows preferential treatment. You don't even have to be technical-minded to understand how answers from the Zuck were evasive and untruthful: My barely-technical mother showed me a facebook video circulating in her language with subtitles and highlights of the very simple "Yes, or no?!?" evasions and how there was no consequence in evading them. If we were the ones in a court, contempt would have been immediately called out until we gave a satisfactory answer. It's not like a murderer can just get away with that level of evasion and just walk out of court scott-free.

    27. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Tame"? British MPs are absolutely scrotum-bitingly brutal compared with US senators and representatives. Just look at PMQs - there's simply no equivalent across the pond.

    28. Re:Summon? by bickerdyke · · Score: 1

      They should have kept the north american colonies back then....

      --
      bickerdyke
    29. Re:Summon? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      It's true that he can easily evade this if he wants to, although it is kinda embarrassing to be effectively barred from visiting a country because you don't want to answer questions about the scandals you presided over.

      Easily is not what I'd call it. He'd never be able to travel to the EU or Commonwealth nations, even accidentally setting foot in Malaysia will have the coppers up his backside (and the police walk around KLIA with submachine guns, I still think it's quite funny seeing a Muslim Malay woman in uniform with a headscarf and MP5). Plus the UK can begin extradition proceedings against him in the United States, even if Zuckerberg wins (with what excuse, he's not being charged, just asked to attend Parliament, walking out is practically guaranteed), it'll cost him a lot to defend himself.

      Considering how well he came off from the US hearings I think he might come. Our MPs are pretty tame really.

      They can get pretty vicious when they think it'll benefit them. But I'll still bet on this being a damp squib.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    30. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, they just have to say his name three times.

    31. Re:Summon? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Did you mean "fall"? As in a great one?

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    32. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would he even consider entering that Police State where people are locked up for "offensive" tweets? He'd be smart to ignore that small island that's no longer even EU anymore.

      Rampant ignorance. You obviously have no idea what a 'police state' even is, it's just a buzzword to you.
      And we're still in the EU at this time.

    33. Re:Summon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is total bollocks. Contempt of the UK parliament is not a matter for an international arrest warrant or extradition. But he'd still be stupid to ignore it if the UK parliament persists.

    34. Re:Summon? by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      He'd be smart to ignore that small island that's no longer even EU anymore.

      The UK is in the EU until March 29 2019. At that point, all EU law becomes UK law, and the slow (decades to centuries long) process of legislative disentanglement starts.

      That of course assumes that the government doesn't either (1) fragment internally or (2) lose a confidence vote and the subsequent general election in the intervening 11 months. Actually, I'd better check the mid-day news - the fragmentation may have happened at this morning's Cabinet meeting.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
  2. Turn-about is fair play, right? by mandark1967 · · Score: 0

    He should just claim he has Asperger's and can't travel to England

    --
    Sig Follows: "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." -- Mark Twain
    1. Re:Turn-about is fair play, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      then we can give him 99 concurrent life sentencance in ultra Max , seize all his assets and arrest him on any plane that stops in one of our territories.

      Fair play.

    2. Re: Turn-about is fair play, right? by Reverend+Green · · Score: 1

      Gulag FTW!

  3. They saw the US do it, so they have to do it too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If I was Zuck, I wouldn't do it. Pretty soon every country is going to think they need to have him come testify or they're less important than the others. I'd tell those wankers to sod off. Maybe send an underling if they insist.

  4. So what if he doesn't? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are they gonna ban fb in the UK? Lol Zuckerberg just is gonna have to give up his fish and chips and stay home.

    1. Re:So what if he doesn't? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      How about "x millions fine a day 'til he comes"?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  5. Just block facebook in the uk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    They do it for pirate sites so just block the biggest pirate of personal information in history.

  6. When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Does Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden each get a turn summoning a CEO for questions?

    It's a big unrealistic to expect someone to visit every country in a timely manner. If they wish to speak with company representatives available in their respective region that's certainly reasonable and I'm sure can be arranged promptly.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    1. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden each get a turn summoning a CEO for questions?

      It's a big unrealistic to expect someone to visit every country in a timely manner. If they wish to speak with company representatives available in their respective region that's certainly reasonable and I'm sure can be arranged promptly.

      If you're looking for reasonable logistics, just invite him to the UN and get it over with already. We keep doing this one-country-at-a-time bullshit and we'll wind up questioning CEOs for so damn long we'll forget what the fuck the point was.

    2. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The short answer is yes. Those are the breaks when you're the CEO of a multinational corporation that has been playing fast and loose with citizens data in multiple countries.

      I'm sure you can list all the other countries that have summoned him that he has to visit first that are preventing him from attending parliament in the UK, right? What's that? They haven't?

    3. Re:When does it end? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      No, only those countries whose law was broken by Facebook. Concerning the EU, perhaps the European Parliament would be a reasonable venue.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    4. Re:When does it end? by Tailhook · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It's a big [sic] unrealistic

      Zuckerberg et al. don't hesitate to play tax games among all these foreign countries. Zuckerberg et al. demand a borderless world from which to cherry pick employees. Zuckerberg et al. don't hesitate to cash the checks they earn from the UK and elsewhere. Zuckerberg et al. are unfailingly disappointed whenever the US fails to conform to the demands of international authorities (climate agreements, immigration policy, gun laws, etc.)

      Yet let any of these countries demand Zuckerberg appear before investigators and all the sudden everything is "unrealistic" or "unreasonable."

      You know what? Fuck Zuckerberg. He can spend the next tens years schlepping from one 18 star hotel to the next all over Europe and Asia dealing with these investigations as far as I'm concerned. If Zuckerberg doesn't like it he can stop accepting revenue from ad views outside the US or whatever he has to do to eliminate his obligations in foreign countries. If that means the Facebook business model isn't feasible then so be it; nothing of value will have been lost.

      --
      Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
    5. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Furthermore, it is a bit unrealistic to assume that a company can keep its users data safe.

      No company can keep its users data safe, as has been proven by the endless parade of personal data leak disclosures that we have been seeing.

      The only way to keep the data safe is to delete it.

    6. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you murder someone in every country in the world, do you not think the police in every country at least have a reasonable right to issue a warrant for your arrest in their country?

      Even if you never turn up, it seems like a reasonable thing to issue so you can be questioned if you do ever turn up. Given that a parliamentary enquiry is part of the UK's legal system and Facebook acted illegally here it doesn't seem unreasonable to issue a summons for him to find out how it got to that point.

      Or are you arguing that rich powerful execs shouldn't be held to the same legal standards as everyone else? He should be grateful it's just a parliamentary enquiry and not an actual arrest warrant for what would appear to be potentially criminal breaches of data protection law by Facebook - something execs can be held personally liable for under even existing European Data Protection law.

    7. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It would help to "try" to keep the data safe. AFAIK Google has not had a massive data leak yet. The reason is that Google is one of the few companies I know of that actually takes software security quite seriously in their designs. Sure they will hoard more data than they should, but they are not reselling individual users very private details to the highest bidder like Facebook does. I worked at Google and at 'Enterprise Software Security' companies so I have pretty good knowledge of how it works under the hood in Silicon Valley. If you look at the people in charge of InfoSec at some of the big data leaks companies you'll see a pattern of "we don't actually care". The next problem is the hacking of transportation and other things that can kill people. Until there is enforcement of security through the application of criminal negligence with actual jail time and very punitive damages (fine is actually bigger than profits) applied to the top level decision makers of corporations, then nothing will improve.

    8. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden each get a turn summoning a CEO for questions?

      Yes.
      He can refuse and they can block him form doing business in their countries and prevent him from visiting their countries.

      If he doesn't like that he doesn't have to do business there.

      It's a big unrealistic to expect someone to visit every country in a timely manner.

      Well, it is a bit unrealistic to think that you can conspire to destabilize countries and not get a response.
      Zuckerberg should be happy that they only want to question him so far.

      If they find that he was a bit more involved than what is publicly known so far then they can also go as far as trying to have him assassinated to send a message. That is a bit more inconvenient than having to show up to testify.

    9. Re:When does it end? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 0

      In times of BREXIT, it will be a bit difficult for an UK institution to call a foreign CEO in front of an EU/european institution.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    10. Re:When does it end? by SeaFox · · Score: 2

      Does Australia, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden each get a turn summoning a CEO for questions?

      It's a big unrealistic to expect someone to visit every country in a timely manner.

      He could have arranged a question-and-answer session before an international representative group and done this all at once -- it's not like it's been a secret UK legislators have wanted to talk to him. He just chose to play the classic "I'm going to ignore you unless I'm legally obligated to because you can arrest me" card.

      Who'd have though being a major figure in an global business would require lots of meetings with people you don't really want to talk to? :rolleyes:

    11. Re:When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 2

      What's that? They haven't?

      Perhaps the commonwealth countries know how to queue.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    12. Re:When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      Zuckerberg et al. don't hesitate to play tax games among all these foreign countries.

      Sadly tax games are often quite legal. And in the less reputable countries, discreetly encouraged.

      Zuckerberg et al. don't hesitate to cash the checks they earn from the UK and elsewhere.

      Same can be said of GlaxoSmithKline, Lloyds Bank, Virgin Atlantic, Dyson, etc. Globalization is current reality and not illegal.

      Yet let any of these countries demand Zuckerberg appear before investigators and all the sudden everything is "unrealistic" or "unreasonable."

      That's a false equivalence. Something like the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce summoning CEO Tony Hayward to discuss the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster is not equivalent to Facebook doing something that people don't like were there does not yet exist proper legislation or guidelines.

      You know what? Fuck Zuckerberg.

      The guy is a tool. And his business is a parasite. But I don't see anything obviously illegal. Maybe we should legislate his business out of existence. But we don't really need to summon him to ask his opinion on if we should destroy his business or not.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    13. Re:When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      No company can keep its users data safe, as has been proven by the endless parade of personal data leak disclosures that we have been seeing.

      If that's true. Then they shouldn't have the data.

      The only way to keep the data safe is to delete it.

      I think that's what legislature is trying to figure out. If GDPR-like laws can protect people without choking off all commerce. (obviously yes, but I think it's prudent for legislature to do the due diligence).

      But let's be realistic here. Someone like Zuck shows up to Parliament it's going to be so politicians can give him a dressing down like some kind of circus act for the masses. "Look at me, I'm your MP and I'm tough on these big rich tech guys. Remember to support me in the next election!"

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    14. Re:When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      Your analogy requires some laws to have been broken.

      Charge him with a crime. Extradite him. There are real processes in place for criminals that us normal non-rich people endure.

      Except this isn't about a crime. This is about political showmanship. Each government that failed to protect its citizenry from businesses Facebook gets to try and save face by summoning Zuck and trying to shift the blame. Fail to regulate your markets properly and suffer from assholes trying to make a buck at your citizenry's expense.

      The privacy laws in the US, UK, CA, and many other first world countries is a joke and we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Publicly yelling at Zuckerberg is not going to do much other than coddle the emotions of voters. It's a fine distraction so we don't realize where the failure really lies.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    15. Re:When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      it's not like it's been a secret UK legislators have wanted to talk to him.

      If they are anything like the US Senate, they wanted to do so on their terms and not his. Much of their behavior is about scoring political points.

      Who'd have though being a major figure in an global business would require lots of meetings with people you don't really want to talk to? :rolleyes:

      There is a difference between a business obligation, political obligation, and a legal obligation. If I am legally obligated to present myself at the whim of any world government, and doing so means I've violated that government's laws and will be barred from future entry, then that's pretty unreasonable. Certainly within their sovereign power. But it is right? is it fair? Does it accomplish a goddamn thing?

      Make some laws. Kill Facebook's business. Maybe Zuckerberg should have volunteered more information up front. I don't really care though. Apply the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to the entire world and or shut up and accept that without legislation businesses will be buying and selling personal information. You can't simply decide you don't like something someone has done and make a bunch of demands. (well you CAN but we shouldn't take you or the UK Parliament seriously)

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    16. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The privacy laws in the US, UK, CA, and many other first world countries is a joke

      I don't know about Canada, but the privacy laws in the UK are nothing like the (lack of) privacy laws in the USA. Enforcement may be too rare, but the law per se is pretty restrictive.

    17. Re:When does it end? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Except what you're saying is quite consistent with the parent. The "et al." bit.

      Now I know you're talking about multiple CEOs there but the reality is the CEO does none of what you said. The people who do it are the large teams of people across multiple layers of management often dispersed across the globe to make this global border-less reality a ... well ... reality.

      It's those very people who support all of what you say, and it's those same people who the OP rightfully commented as being the correct people to contact first. Now if it turns out those people are incapable of getting the information or answering the question, then cast the net further. But in the meantime it most definitely is unrealistic for one person to be at the whim of everything.

      Hmmm just looking at this hotel receipt now I don't know if the tip needs to be expensed separately or if I can just include it in dinner on the system. Quick someone get the board of directors on the phone!

    18. Re:When does it end? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Chop him up and send a few bits to every country.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    19. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In general, one world government would be much more efficient than several independent governments. However, governments are the ultimate predators of humans, killing millions and enslaving billions in their never-ending quest for more power. I'm not convinced that more efficiency would be a plus.

      CAPTCHA: warfare

    20. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      we'll wind up questioning CEOs for so damn long we'll forget what the fuck the point was.

      What the fuck is the point? It isn't like we're going to learn anything new about Facebook.

      It's a fucking dog and pony show.

    21. Re:When does it end? by Xest · · Score: 1

      You're making assumptions without understanding the UK legal system, and because of that, you're wrong.

      You have to understand that inquiries in the UK do have legal standing - they can legally compel him to attend, this is exactly what they're talking about here.

      And this is a crime - claiming the UK hasn't regulated properly here isn't the issue, the case is being built against them by the ICO, the fact it's not reached judgement yet doesn't mean it didn't happen. Facebook is most definitely in breach of UK law because it allowed collection of data not just from people who gave permission, but people who didn't give permission because Facebook was handing out data of friends of those who gave permission - there's no basis for that to be legal under the UK Data Protection Act (the thing you mistakenly called the UK Data Protection Directive), no one can consent to giving your information away on your behalf, unless you're a legal guardian for someone incapacitated, or mentally unfit (i.e. people with Alzheimers) which isn't what we're talking about here.

      I'm not sure why you think the privacy laws in the UK are as weak as in the US and Canada, they're not, they're some of the strongest in the world - the UK implemented the 1995 European Data Protection Directive, and gold plated it by strengthening beyond the minimum required as an EU member. It's also going ahead with implementation of the 2012 directive (more commonly referred to as GDPR) even if it leaves the EU - it has committed to implementation and enforcement of this regardless of the outcome of EU negotiations. If you think the UK has weak privacy laws, you haven't been paying attention to comment rationally on this topic.

      Which is precisely why Zuckerberg has a legal necessity to attend (or never come to the UK again, and face his business being fined, or even it's right to process personal data revoked potentially), because as described above, what his company has been doing is unquestionably illegal. You have to understand the UK is not the US, things work differently here, and courts can take into account other information in cases like this, if for example Zuckerberg attends and makes promises to parliament under oath, then that is sufficient legally to allow a court to eliminate or reduce a fine for illegality, because a judge may view that legal oath as sufficient commitment to resolving and making good on the issue.

      If however he doesn't attend, given his CTO he sent that did attend and failed to answer sufficiently, that will be looked upon negatively by the courts as willful infringement, and as a result the book will be thrown at him.

      You're arguing it's the UK's fault for not having strong enough laws, whilst implying Zuckerberg shouldn't have to be held to account to UK laws that cover the violation that his company has broken that - if you can't realise how absurd that argument is I don't know what to say to you. Zuckerberg is looking at receiving this summons precisely because his firm is under investigation for a clear violation of strong data protection laws, and how he responds to that will factor in to the response to that action.

      Even the likes of Murdoch were humbled by a parliamentary inquiry and had to attend, don't make the mistake of assuming UK parliamentary inquiries are the same as the political showmanship that goes on in the US, they're really not, neither legally, nor in purpose.

    22. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But we don't really need to summon him

      What do you know? He has been summoned by authorities that believe they have both the need and the right to do so, and if he steps foot in the UK they're going to grab his ass up. This isn't some theoretical exercise and if you have a problem with it get elected to Parliament and make them stop.

    23. Re:When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      Parliament is not a court room. Being summoned to court is not at all the same as being summoned to face UK Parliament or the US Senate. Certainly we use similar words like hearing, trial, discovery, inquriy, testimony, and others in these things. But please don't confuse them as being identical in process and purpose.

      and I answered the rest in my earlier post. (I misspoke when I said Directive instead of Act because EU has a similarly named DPD)

      Call me a cynic but I feel we're seeing political theater rather than justice at work. And I don't think this is a "mistake" on my part.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    24. Re:When does it end? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      I was thinking mostly about the "France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden" part.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    25. Re:When does it end? by Xest · · Score: 1

      "Parliament is not a court room"

      I didn't at any point say it was. It does however have the authority to issue a legal summons, and anything said there can lead to legal agreements, and be used in subsequent legal proceedings. So regardless of it not being a court room, it still has some of the same powers and authority as a court room does.

      The European Data Protection Directive you refer to is the European Directive from which the Data Protection Act stems - the Data Protection Act is the UK's implementation of the directive, that's ultimately what the EU does - it forms directives, then it's upto member states to determine how to implement that into law, typically via acts in the UK's case.

      Don't try and lecture me on a topic you very very clearly know nothing about - you couldn't even get the name of the legislation right, so why would you persist in pretending you in any way know anything about this topic? You gave your opinion - fine, but it was wrong. You cannot judge a legal system you clearly know nothing about by the faults of one you do know about. You are being a cynic, you're right, you're assuming that because of failings or weaknesses in your own political system that you assume they're global, they're not. Unlike the childish partisan questioning in the US hearings where retards like Ted Cruz decided to bring up an old story that had no merit at the time, and even less now to defend "conservatives" whoever they even are nowadays, British parliamentary inquiries are very much non-partisan and about real, actual fact finding - one key element of this is that the inquiry members sit down together and work out what information they need to find out, and what questions they need to ask, even though they come from different parties. Cruz's partisan bullshit wouldn't fly because he'd get no agreement from the committee to go off on a tangent with the aim of making himself look good to his voters whilst adding nothing of value to the hearing itself. This is why inquiries in the UK are effective and focused, precisely because they work together and pull in expert witnesses where needed. If it was just showmanship they wouldn't spend weeks speaking to whistleblowers and working together trying to understand the problem first, they'd just haul him straight in and ask pointless irrelevant questions that sound good but achieve nothing as in the US.

      The biggest failing with inquiries in the UK isn't the inquiries themselves but the aftermath - all too often the government of the day plays politics and refuses to act on recommendations, but that's a separate issue, and does not in any way mean the parliamentary inquiries themselves aren't done well.

    26. Re:When does it end? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Has he broken any laws himself? Or is it what Facebook has done that is being investigated?

      If he is personally culpable, it is reasonable to expect him to attend. However if it is his company, then it is reasonable to send a suitable representative.

      As Zuckerburg doesn't even work in the UK, I don't see why he needs to attend personally. This is just to make the UK MPs feel important and look like they are doing something. What do they expect to hear from Zuckerburg that they wouldn't get from a high level UK based representative?

      N.B. I hate Facebook, and don't like Zuckerburg either. I just think it is pointless summoning him here.

    27. Re:When does it end? by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

      It does however have the authority to issue a legal summons

      And I never questioned that.

      You gave your opinion - fine, but it was wrong.

      This has been more about you putting words in my mouth.

      Don't try and lecture me on a topic

      Seems like your projecting. And on that note I'm out.

      --
      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  7. Scene: Ecuadorian embassy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    *knock on the door*
    *Assange opens it*
    Assange: Mark?
    Zuckerberg: Hey man, slumber party?

    1. Re:Scene: Ecuadorian embassy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *knock on the door*
      *Assange opens it*
      Assange: Mark?
      Zuckerberg: Hey man, slumber party?

      Assange: Sure, but I need you to sign this affidavit that it's OK if I don't use a condom.

    2. Re:Scene: Ecuadorian embassy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's OK, Zuckerberg is considered to be a male, so therefore it's never rape!

  8. The writing on the wall by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can see how this will play out.

    The big players (Google, Facebook, Twitter, et al.) should not determine what's acceptable speech, or attempt to enforce it.

    That's the job of the government, there's lots of existing precedent to rely on, and there are clear avenues of appeal and change.

    So here's what will happen: things will get really bad for awhile, then something will happen that breaks the dam. There will be a flood of calls to break up Google (in particular), and twitter and facebook and all the others.

    Facebook's problem wasn't that they gave information to an outside party, it's that the party was associated with Trump that got them in trouble. Largely the same thing happened with Obama, and Facebook didn't care.

    Recently published research shows that google manipulated search results to make Clinton seem more favorable to Trump. The research uses comparisons of search keys between Google, Bing, and Yahoo to make it's point, and is based on results published in PNAS. An excerpt:

    overall, manipulating search suggestions can shift a 50/50 split among people who are undecided on an issue to a 90/10 split without people’s awareness and without leaving a paper trail for authorities to follow.

    Google engages in unfair media manipulation at its worst, they are literally trying to sway the results of an election to a candidate they prefer. Facebook and Twitter are doing the same. Facebook does the same thing indirectly, by selling personal information to companies who themselves do the manipulation.

    It was thought to be "the smart move" when the Obama campaign did it, and at the time no one realized that the same effect could be turned the other way.

    The big players are right now laying the grounds for the upcoming election by eliminating certain opinions. Gun proponents explaining how to clean and care for their guns get their accounts locked, videos get demonetized, commentary gets shadow-banned... despite claims of "it was a mistake" and "it's our AI", the results have been largely one-sided.

    I don't expect Facebook to be smart enough to notice what's happening (or Google or Twitter), so the most likely outcome is that this will come to a head with enormous public outcry over something in the future (possibly the upcoming US midterm elections), and the companies will be forceably broken down into smaller pieces or made to submit to regulation.

    A pity, really. Facebook could probably get a lot of consumer good will by being the champions of human rights.

    Instead, they seem hell-bent on forcing governments to step in with regulation.

    1. Re:The writing on the wall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      made to submit to regulation

      After which, rather than being free to manipulate the public to support their preferred party, they'll be required to manipulate the public to support the party currently in power.

    2. Re:The writing on the wall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You fundamentally misunderstand the facebook business model, Maybe this will explain it better:
      https://i.chzbgr.com/full/5246665216/h330E1FA4/

      It also explains why this "scandal" is ridiculous.

    3. Re:The writing on the wall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Recently published research shows that google manipulated search results

      Think critically for a minute, and compare 'Trump is' to 'Clinton is'. The top 3 results from Google: "is the 45", "is republican", and "is awesome". For Bing, "is an idiot", "is a racist", and "is impeached". Yahoo: "is a moron", "is awesome", and "is an idiot". So, has Google gone all Trumpy, and Bing is now resorting to evil political attacks? Of course not, but if you want to be consistent in your beliefs, you'll now start posting about Bing and how Bing is the anti-Trump search engine now and Google is pro-Trump. This is the same Internet "research" that Epstein, Mohr, and Martinez have done. I'm not speaking figuratively, this is literally the same research that they've done -- type "Clinton is" into the browser and see what comes back. This is not science. This is irrational claptrap, and it should neither be believed nor supported.

    4. Re:The writing on the wall by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      There will be a flood of calls to break up Google

      There have been for the past decade. The reality is it won't happen.

      Google engages in unfair media manipulation at its worst, they are literally trying to sway the results of an election to a candidate they prefer.

      So they are a news company then? I'm not sure anymore if you're just stating the obvious, manufacturing outrage, or actually clueless as to how the media represents elections in general.

      Gun proponents explaining how to clean and care for their guns get their accounts locked, videos get demonetized, commentary gets shadow-banned... despite claims of "it was a mistake"

      Fake news. Google has never said it was a mistake.

      the companies will be forceably broken down into smaller pieces

      If you think this is likely you really haven't been paying attention to the past 30 years.

    5. Re:The writing on the wall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Meanwhile, some people will create decentralised social media platforms that cannot be selectively censored by design (either everything's ok or nothing is). Reputation networks and optional filters will rise to help people navigate such a platform without running into upsetting content (e.g. beheadings and adverts). These platforms will remain niche for some time but, as the coming to a head you describe occurs, a surprising number of people will adopt these new platforms for their freedom.

      Yes, such things have existed for over a decade, but the technology and demand are improving so quickly that it's only a matter of time before they start to take hold.

  9. Why Zuckerberg? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    Why not summon the head of Facebook's UK operations first? I don't understand their obsession. Did they ask the UK based employees already and not get a satisfactory answer, or something that can only be answered by the CEO?

    1. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by squiggleslash · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What exactly do you think the local operation does? Maintain a parallel Facebook with its own independent privacy policies and implementation of those policies?

      All of the questions MPs want answered pertain to decisions being made by Zuckerberg and his US-based subordinates. They don't give a fuck how much advertising "Facebook UK" was able to sell.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    2. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      Wasn't the whole thing about this CA thing that it was all public data anyway, someone just gathered it all in one place. How do they expect facebook to keep people's data safe that the people made public?

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    3. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      All of the questions MPs want answered pertain to decisions being made by Zuckerberg and his US-based subordinates.

      Ahhh so not Zuckerberg, but a bunch of people under him. So why not just ask their local UK office. I'm sure they can get that information for them.

      Except they don't. Summoning someone foreign to something like this is not at all about answering questions, it's about staging a public show.

    4. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because Zuckerberg is effectively responsible for every policy implemented by those under him. That's what being CEO means. He can't pass the buck; he's ultimately responsible for the executive of the company.

    5. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Parliamentary select committees don't get much press, even in the UK, outside a few broadsheets and a bit of comment on Radio 4, and BBC Parliament which probably doesn't break a viewship of four figures at any given moment, and maybe five minutes on Newsnight. If you are going to do something for show, this isn't exactly the best forum.

    6. Re: Why Zuckerberg? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Capitalist shills sure do like defending creepy Zuck.

    7. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      Why not summon the head of Facebook's UK operations first? I don't understand their obsession. Did they ask the UK based employees already and not get a satisfactory answer, or something that can only be answered by the CEO?

      Because they want a charade of an interrogation instead of actually doing anything.

      If they really wanted to do something, they would be doing it, and not setting up a show.

    8. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Because Zuckerberg is effectively responsible for every policy implemented by those under him. That's what being CEO means.

      No, no he is not. Not unless he was personally involved in the decision in some way. That's what corporations are all about.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    9. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Are you German? Just asking because the German language doesn't have different words to describe responsible and accountable. The CEO is not responsible, he's accountable. Or at least should be. That doesn't make them a good target for an interrogation if you want questions answered.

      Does make for a good lynching though.

    10. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think this one will get a bit more, it being about Facebook. And it is the forum they've got, what other forum can they use to summon him and make a show of it?

    11. Re:Why Zuckerberg? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because they want a charade of an interrogation instead of actually doing anything.

      No, because they want to speak to the fucking organ-grinder and not his fucking monkey, OK?

  10. Greedy Politicians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They just want to meet the rich guy so they can agree some kickbacks with him.

  11. Re: Libeling me JustAnotherOldDouche? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Too much of a coward to address your spam post in the Twitter article yesterday? You're hiding.

    As for this post, it contains a violent threat. Your deranged behavior has greatly increased to the point of making random posts in articles where the targets of your rage haven't even posted. It's time for you to be banned from Slashdot and involuntary committed to a mental health institution.

  12. Good luck, PMs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even the US Congress treated Zuc like a head of state, not putting him under oath, which allowed him to say what he placed, be it an absolute lie.

    Good luck, Limeys.

  13. Hole uo in an embassy, Mark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Zuck should hole up in the Bulgarian embassy in Zurich.

  14. Re:They saw the US do it, so they have to do it to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They've already asked him politely and he declined. This is the parliamentary equivalent of "We've tried being polite and you refused, so we're not asking anymore". Failure to attend seems to give parliament some vaguely defined power to punish the refusal.

  15. Need by stealth_finger · · Score: 0

    Do we really need another round of bored looking guy explaining technology to old people. What power do the government think they can use to summon a foreigner to them? Typical tory twats, I have way more concern about them keeping anything safe than what facebook does to sell ads.

    --
    Wanna buy a shirt?
    https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    1. Re:Need by DarkLordBelial · · Score: 1

      Indeed - they need to get their own house in order first:

      https://www.theregister.co.uk/...

    2. Re:Need by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed - they need to get their own house in order first:

      https://www.theregister.co.uk/...

      I thought that the UK bailed out of the EU.

  16. Demon lord, not so simple. by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 2

    Zuckerberg is a demon lord, so nothing that simple will work.

    It has to be a full summoning circle, with protection circles for the summoner, acolyte minor, and familiar.

    The full incant goes something like:

    Here have I scribed the true URLs of power,
    Forward and backward anagrammatized,
    The abbreviated names of holy CEOs,
    Figures of every adjunct to the internet,
    And characters of signs and evening stars,
    By which the spirits are enforced to rise.
    And do the utmost magic can perform.

    You also need something to appease Zuckerberg once he gets there. The life of a small child, or the promise of toothless regulation, or something similar.

  17. Extradition FTW! by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think they should get with the State Department and get him extradited like any other criminal.

    1. Re:Extradition FTW! by sinij · · Score: 1

      I think they should get with the State Department and get him extradited like any other criminal.

      Sure, just right after Iran finished with him on blasphemy charges.

      I understand that Mark is least deserving person, but unless everyone is protected by our laws, no one is.

    2. Re: Extradition FTW! by Reverend+Green · · Score: 1

      You think our laws protect commoners like us? Really?

    3. Re:Extradition FTW! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That only works if it's illegal in his own country too. Otherwise the State Department will throw it in the wastebasket.

    4. Re:Extradition FTW! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is he accused of a crime? What fb do might be unethical, but it’s not illegal (yet)

  18. How about this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can we start issuing these summons for Facebook users? They are the ones who in spite of all contrary reason have enabled Facebook's mass surveillance and given not only their own data but data about their non-Facebook using friends and families to Facebook.

    Facebook would be a footnote of history without the billions who continue to line up to send it their selfies and location and contact lists. Do those people bear no responsibility at all for the world they have voted to create?

    1. Re: How about this? by Reverend+Green · · Score: 1

      Shills be shillin'

    2. Re: How about this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uhm, how is wanting people not to use Facebook "shilling", exactly?

  19. Donations by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    What's the point now? They didn't listen when people were running around in the beginning saying what a bad idea this was, giving so much information to one company. They wait until Facebook gets too big to control before they realize "Oh, this is a bad thing". Perhaps they realized it before and this is all just a smoke screen to look like they are trying to do something, while they quietly accept Facebook donations in their back pocket.

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  20. Arrest his ass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Little fucking traitor.

  21. Re:They saw the US do it, so they have to do it to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is the parliamentary equivalent of "We've tried being polite and you refused, so we're not asking anymore".

    If someone asks you to attend something, and you decline, and they immediately make some vague threat, then they were never really asking in the first place. This is just them dropping the pretense that it was ever voluntary.

  22. Re: They saw the US do it, so they have to do it t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Similar to contempt of court, contempt of parliament is punishable by indefinite prison term. Basicslly if he's found in contempt of parliament and then sets foot in the UK he'll be bundled into prison until he agrees to answer questions.

  23. Re:They saw the US do it, so they have to do it to by Space+cowboy · · Score: 2

    Yes.

    It seems to me that US people (I only say the US because that's where I live, I don't know if it's as common elsewhere) seem to think Brits are nice people, and you can get away with shit around them. Brits are *not* especially nice. Brits are *polite*, there is a huge difference. The velvet glove conceals an iron fist, and it's generally easier to be polite back than to piss them off overmuch.

    I imagine his questioning will be somewhat more ... in depth ... than it would have been previously. There is no time limit on select-committee investigations, like in the US congressional hearings. If it takes several hours, then it takes several hours...

    --
    Physicists get Hadrons!
  24. Re: They saw the US do it, so they have to do it t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope parliament gives Zuck a colonoscopy with a sharp, rusty meat hook covered with pig feces and duck entrails while a Russian prostitute urinates in his mouth.

  25. WARNING to the U.K. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's a two way street. Mr Zuckerberg and others are not breaking a U.K. law unless they are in U.K. territory at the time of breaking it. If you try to enforce otherwise, just like impressing sailors into your navy, then you will get a measure response from the United States of America which will result in a lot of your executives locked up because they violated the U.S. Constitution.

    1. Re:WARNING to the U.K. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      It's a two way street. Mr Zuckerberg and others are not breaking a U.K. law unless they are in U.K. territory at the time of breaking it.

      Does it really work both ways? That UFO nutter (the one who looked like a startled Patrick Swayze) who was accused of hacking wasn't anywhere near the US.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  26. Re: They saw the US do it, so they have to do it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I am intrigued by the role-playing possibilities. Please, continue.

  27. teh lulz by some+old+guy · · Score: 1

    What's the UK going to do do enforce a "summons"?

    Scotland Yard is too busy punishing bloggers and cartoonists for "hate speech", and both of their soldiers are already busy in Afghanistan.

    They could always threaten to withhold all Tesco coupons, but Zuck's butler shops at Whole Foods.

    Or maybe have an MI6 bot campaign spam-post swimsuit pictures of Teresa May to his personal timeline until he complies.

    --
    Scruting the inscrutable for over 50 years.
    1. Re:teh lulz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Teresa May is a porn actress. That would be a better threat if they were swimsuit pictures of Theresa May.

    2. Re:teh lulz by robinsonne · · Score: 1

      Or maybe have an MI6 bot campaign spam-post swimsuit pictures of Teresa May to his personal timeline until he complies.

      And it's British things like this that led to the Eighth Amendment...

    3. Re:teh lulz by some+old+guy · · Score: 1

      Right, it is a huge difference. One achieved fame for being elected head of the Tories, and the other gained her fame honestly.

      --
      Scruting the inscrutable for over 50 years.
    4. Re:teh lulz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get them to pay tax would be a start. If that does not work unfriend him.

  28. Political grandstanding by bradley13 · · Score: 1

    It will be just like in the US: politicians want to look concerned, so - wow - they're going to summon him and make him answer questions. The questions, themselves, of course, will be softballs. It's all about being seen on camera.

    --
    Enjoy life! This is not a dress rehearsal.
  29. Re: Thugs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How dare those cops arrest the brutal gangster who had been terrorizing the neighborhood! Don't they realize that hooligan has (special) RIGHTS (that commoners don't have)!

  30. Summoned not for spying and PI gathering by Jarwulf · · Score: 1

    but for the crime of possibly/appearing helping Trump win. (but probably not if you actually look at the evidence)

  31. Re: They saw the US do it, so they have to do it t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Zuck could remind those in the British government that he holds tons of sensitive personal data on everyone in the British government, their families, and all their friends and their friend's friends, and it would be a *shame* if that data were to be...accidentally and unintentionally, mind...leaked to the public.

  32. Easy... by ytene · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just point out that the UK's Customs and Revenues Service will be taking a very detailed look at Facebook's tax returns, with a view to implementing necessary corrections in legislation that will prevent Zuck from off-shoring his profits to some tax haven.

    Nothing will get a mega-corp CEO in the room like a threat to their profits.

    1. Re:Easy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We should ask Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to investigate too. :-)

    2. Re:Easy... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Just point out that the UK's Customs and Revenues Service will be taking a very detailed look at Facebook's tax returns, with a view to implementing necessary corrections in legislation that will prevent Zuck from off-shoring his profits to some tax haven.

      Nothing will get a mega-corp CEO in the room like a threat to their profits.

      And they will call the bluff. Not a bluff a per se but rather tax offices audit mega corporations all the time. Funny thing, every time they are found to be perfectly compliant with their immoral but legally enabled practices.

      That's what you get when you pay your accountants more than the government does.

    3. Re:Easy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Funny thing, every time they are found to be perfectly compliant..."

      Except for all the times they aren't.

      https://www.ft.com/content/a38fa412-aef3-11e5-b955-1a1d298b6250 ("Apple agrees to pay €318m fine to close Italian tax case")
      https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/04/amazon-eu-tax-irish-government-apple ("Amazon ordered to repay €250m by EU over 'illegal tax advantages")
      https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/aug/30/apple-pay-back-taxes-eu-ruling-ireland-state-aid ("Apple ordered to pay €13bn after EU rules Ireland broke state aid laws")
      https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/22/google-agrees-to-pay-hmrc-130m-in-back-taxes ("
      Google agrees to pay British authorities £130m in back taxes")
      https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/facebook-pays-aussie-taxman-a31m-back-taxes-ck-215159 ("Facebook pays Aussie taxman $A31m in back taxes")

      And probably loads more. A few hundred million here, a few hundred million there, pretty soon we'll be talking about real money. That's a few minutes googling.

      There seems to be a myth (that you've fallen for) that the tech giants are squeaky clean, comply with the letter of tax law scrupulously and without exception, and gosh dang it's all those awful politicians fault for leaving loopholes in the tax code.

  33. Re: Go watch FoxNews Doland.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..you're drunk on hooker piss again.

  34. Re: Behold, the American intelligence! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So smart. So brave. So very special and free.

  35. Re: They saw the US do it, so they have to do it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds like the kind of thing a lot of our MPs would like, so long as the prostitute is dressed as a nazi officer.

  36. The USA's Julian Assange by VeryFluffyBunny · · Score: 1

    Does this mean that the UK might turn Zuckerberg into the USA equivalent of Julian Assange? I wonder which countries might offer Zuckerberg political assylum. Myanmar, Saudi Arabia or any of those oppressive regimes who use Facebook to track down political dissidents and incite violent hatred against minorities perhaps?

    --
    Debate is a form of harassment. Do not question my truth.
  37. yes senator by bobmajdakjr · · Score: 1

    i mean m'lord. yes m'lord as i told the honorable gentleman from brixton. no m'lord we already provide all the controls with every single post.

  38. Re:They saw the US do it, so they have to do it to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Brits are *polite*, there is a huge difference.

    Indeed. When a Brit asks you to "kindly" do something, what they really mean is "do this or I'll break your fucking thumbs".

  39. IANAL in any jurisdiction by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    Just a layperson's 2 cents,

    The UK Data protection directive is mostly about not transferring inappropriate risk to users and restricts what sort of things are enforcable an in EULA. It's not a comprehensive privacy law. A data breach does not automatically make a business like Facebook liable for damages under UK DPD. If they have taken reasonable security precautions, which can often be argued that they are no worse than others in the industry, then the consequences should be pretty minimal for FB.

    What is more applicable is the UK Consumer Rights Act (2015). And Facebook's lack of disclosure is potentially an issue.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  40. Do not summon up that which you cannot put down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LOL

  41. How about we ... by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    if you have a problem with it get elected to Parliament and make them stop.

    I do have a problem with it, but it's ridiculous that you think my only option is to somehow take charge charge of another country's political process.

    For example, one alternative is I could point out the problems with the situation. Maybe even write an essay or have a rational debate about it. Maybe people could say something insightful about one side or the other.

    Or I guess people could crank everything to far extremes, try to dismiss anything that doesn't immediately lead to the desired conclusion, and we can all just collectively fuck off.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  42. Can't threaten a fictional person by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & that's ALL "JustAnotherOldGuy" is (you lose) but it was a challenge to that FAKE NAME for a FAKE LIFE loser (one he can't meet).

    * You douchebags are cutting & pasting old posts of mine randomly into posts + doing your typical TRULY cowardly UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous trollings (IF I have something to say, especially to some SICK asshole, I do that to their faces directly, not the bs you're pulling (which MIGHT "embarass" a soyboy like you having the balls to do what I do but it doesn't me & I fully stand behind it & am justified in my righteous indignation over being called a child molester, which I AM NOT nor have I ever been)).

    My opinion of "your kind" (which I am sure most normal people would mirror)?

    You've had TOO MUCH SOY (lol) & bisphenol A causing you to act worse than gossiping women (lmao)... you are "the not men" soyboys! Hahahahaha...

    APK

    P.S.=> Odd (not) how you also conveniently overlook he libeled me too (again, not)... apk

  43. Videoconferencing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is the 21st century after all. Why the expense of flying, time. Silly.

  44. (little green checkmark) by OrangeTide · · Score: 1

    If this was Stack Overflow, I would have selected this as the best answer.

    --
    “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
  45. Re:They saw the US do it, so they have to do it to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, and when we say 'sorry, excuse me, would you *mind*', you'd better damn well *mind*.
    Or you'll get a swordstick (concealed as a walking cane) up your arse, old chap!