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Attorneys General in Six States Are Now Investigating Facebook's Data Practices, Report Says (gizmodo.com)

Posted by msmash on from the long-due-work dept.

At least six state attorneys general have launched investigations into Facebook, Bloomberg is reporting. From a report: Two distinct groups have formed, according to Bloomberg's report: Pennsylvania and Illinois have joined Connecticut in an investigation of "existing allegations," though the report does not mention what those are. Officials in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, "which were already known to be probing Facebook, are seeking to uncover any potential unknown violations," a source told the news agency.

Bloomberg reported that a Facebook vice president of public policy, Will Castleberry, spun the news as the attorneys general just wanting to help Facebook out by suggesting new privacy initiatives or something. "We're having productive conversations with attorneys general on this important topic," Castleberry wrote in an email to Bloomberg. "Many officials have approached us in a constructive manner, focused on solutions that ensure all companies are protecting people's information, and we look forward to continuing to work with them."

8 of 47 comments (clear)

  1. A wopping 12% by jellomizer · · Score: 1

    So 12% of the states are investigating how well the privacy and usage of its constituents data is protected.
    Leaving 88% of the US States, not giving a hoot, about their population.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    1. Re:A wopping 12% by Errol+backfiring · · Score: 1

      So 12% of the states are investigating how well the privacy and usage of its constituents data is violated.

      There, fixed that for you

      --
      Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
    2. Re:A wopping 12% by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Interesting

      These States, while often Reliably blue for voting for presidents, and senate, are actually not as liberal as they are portrayed, they have a strong conservative streak in them as well. I don't think this is mostly due to political leanings, because their are Conservative groups that would love to give Liberal California based Facebook a black eye too.

      Unfortunately the political parties both of them, have strayed away from political ideas, and are centered around interest groups, who are good at bringing in the money for their reelection.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  2. Facebook dishonesty by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    Quote from the Slashdot summary: "... a Facebook vice president of public policy, Will Castleberry, spun the news as the attorneys general just wanting to help Facebook..."

    The five most dishonest answers Mark Zuckerberg gave to Congress.

    Facebook is using 'dishonest and manipulative' tactics to get EU users to agree to facial recognition, critics say.

  3. California? by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Leaving 88% of the US States, not giving a hoot, about their population.

    The state that could really hold Facebook's feet to the fire (California) evidently doesn't give a damn. It's not really clear to me what most of those other states can do about the problem. They have offices in Illinois and New York so that's something but their presence elsewhere is sparse to non-existent except online. So jurisdiction could be an issue.

  4. Result by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

    The result of this will be $10 million fines but will keep the gravy train rolling for both the government and Facebook. Stock is close to an all time high, $35 billion annual profit. No problems here.

  5. Stealth Data Capture by crow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I hope they do something about grabbing data that people don't think they're sharing. Especially with apps that might be recording voices, grabbing location, noting WiFi and cell tower IDs to infer location, etc. They get enough data from what people choose to post, but their apps are downright espionage tools.

    1. Re:Stealth Data Capture by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      This is the root of the problem. If it doesn't say "YOUR MOVEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND PERSONAL ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE PERMANENTLY RECORDED AND SOLD" then it's not enough. And notice I didn't use the weasel word "shared" -- the correct term is "sold".