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Cambridge Analytica Advertising Data and Privacy

Cambridge Analytica tip of iceberg as Facebook suspends 200 data misuse apps

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By John McCarthy, Opinion Editor

May 15, 2018 | 3 min read

Facebook has suspended, and is investigating, 200 apps that it suspects abused user's data before 2014 when the social network upped its privacy protection protocols.

Facebook

Facebook apps that are not under investigation

In 2014, a new platform policy offering greater protection of user data reduce the personal information that apps can access.

The investigation net has been cast beyond Cambridge Analytica which allegedly exploited Facebook data vulnerabilities to farm user data. The company recently filed for insolvency following "unfounded accusations" in the media against which it said its activities were not only legal but also "widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising."

Now Facebook is looking to identify apps that had access to this trove of data. The social network said it is working with internal and external experts to take a closer look at the 200 suspended apps in an audit to see if they accessed the data - following an investigation of thousands of apps. This may include on-site inspections.

Ime Archibong, vice president of product partnerships, said: “Where we find evidence that these or other apps did misuse data, we will ban them and notify people via this website. It will show people if they or their friends installed an app that misused data before 2015 — just as we did for Cambridge Analytica.

“There is a lot more work to be done to find all the apps that may have misused people’s Facebook data – and it will take time. We are investing heavily to make sure this investigation is as thorough and timely as possible. We will keep you updated on our progress.”

It comes after Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg had to answer questions to congress about the mechanics and integrity of Facebook’s processes amid concerns over the Facebook Analytica revelations.

Now the company is letting users opt out of giving the social network access to their browsing history which is used to target ads at internet users.

Cambridge Analytica Advertising Data and Privacy

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