FTC Reportedly Ready to Sock Facebook with Record $5 Billion Fine

The fine, for the social media giant's role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, would be the largest ever against a tech company.

Dark Reading Staff, Dark Reading

July 16, 2019

1 Min Read
Dark Reading logo in a gray background | Dark Reading

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Facebook have reached a settlement over the 2015 Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal, according to reports in The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets.

The fine, at approximately $5 billion, is the largest against a tech company in the FTC's history, surpassing the $22.5 million levied against Google in 2012. That fine also was for failures in privacy practices.

While the settlement has not been formally announced, legislators are already speaking out on the subject, with those on both sides of the aisle criticizing the amount – approximately 9% of Facebook's 2018 revenue – as insufficient.

The proposed settlement must be reviewed by the Department of Justice before it's finalized. No date has been announced for the conclusion of that review.

Read more here and here.

 

Black Hat USA returns to Las Vegas with hands-on technical Trainings, cutting-edge Briefings, Arsenal open-source tool demonstrations, top-tier security solutions, and service providers in the Business Hall. Click for information on the conference and to register.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Dark Reading Staff

Dark Reading

Dark Reading is a leading cybersecurity media site.

Keep up with the latest cybersecurity threats, newly discovered vulnerabilities, data breach information, and emerging trends. Delivered daily or weekly right to your email inbox.

You May Also Like


More Insights