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