Facebook CEO apologizes for data misuse in prepared testimony to Congress
Mark Zuckerberg (Xinhua file photo/Lino De Vallier)
WASHINGTON, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Congress in written testimony on Monday that he is "responsible for" not preventing the social media platform from being used for harm, including fake news, foreign interference in elections and hate speech.
"We didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake," he said in the prepared testimony released by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
"It was my mistake, and I'm sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I'm responsible for what happens here," he said in the remarks he is expected to deliver in a hearing on Wednesday.
His apology came after Facebook is embroiled in a widening scandal that a British data firm called Cambridge Analytica had improperly gathered detailed Facebook information on 87 million users, up from a previous estimate of more than 50 million.
Also, Facebook revealed on Wednesday that outsiders took advantage of search tools on its platform, making it possible for them to collect personal information on most of its 2 billion users worldwide without the users' explicit permission.
This was Zuckerberg's latest apology for the personal data leak and he vowed to plug the vulnerabilities while attempting to defend himself by listing the company's measures to protect user privacy in past years.
He said Facebook had changed the entire platform in 2014 to "dramatically limit the Facebook information apps could access."
Moreover, Facebook banned Aleksandr Kogan, a Cambridge University researcher who leaked the data to Cambridge Analytica, from using Facebook data in 2015, and certified that "they had deleted all improperly acquired data," according to Zuckerberg.
But he didn't explain why and how Cambridge Analytica still managed to misuse the personal data afterwards.
Zuckerberg pledged to limit the information the platform developers can access and they have to get users' approval.
The leaked data was said to be inappropriately used by Cambridge Analytica in activities allegedly connected with U.S. President Donald Trump's election campaign in 2016.
Related articles
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Jessica Biel unveiled a dramatic hair transformation - from chest-length locks to a short bob - on S2024-05-21A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
KIBBUTZ MEFLASIM, Israel (AP) — When Hamas fighters invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, the militant2024-05-21Means tosses seven shutout innings in season debut, Orioles beat Reds 2
CINCINNATI (AP) — John Means pitched seven shutout innings in his season debut and the Baltimore Ori2024-05-21Chicho scores 9th goal of season, Real Salt Lake beats Sporting KC 1
SANDY, Utah (AP) — Cristian “Chicho” Arango scored his ninth goal of the season to help Real Salt La2024-05-21Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired pitcher Yohan Ramírez from the New York Mets for2024-05-21In Botswana, 44 victims of an Easter bus crash in South Africa are laid to rest
MOLEPOLOLE, Botswana (AP) — At least 44 people who died in a horrific bus crash during Easter weeken2024-05-21
atest comment