Mark Zuckerberg Hit With Consumer Protection Lawsuit Over Cambridge Analytica Breach

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Mark Zuckerberg Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit Overview

• Who: District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine filed a lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg.
• Why: Racine claims Zuckerberg, as Meta CEO, allowed the 2016 Cambridge Analytica data breach of Facebook with lax data protection, thus violating consumer protection laws.
• Where: The consumer protection lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C., superior court.

District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine claims Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, encouraged minimalist data protection policies that allowed Cambridge Analytica to access more than 70 million U.S. Facebook users’ data in order to manipulate the 2016 United States presidential election.

Racine accuses Zuckerberg of violating the district’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act by lying to the public about Facebook’s level of data protection while “misusing” their data for Facebook’s own profits. 

Zuckerberg Leaves User Data Unprotected for Profit

Facebook has derived “enormous wealth from acquiring and monetizing the data” of its 2.9 billion users, the lawsuit says, adding the brand is “in a relentless pursuit” to bring more people under its influence and to continue to profit off of their data. 

One way to make money off of users’ data is to “harness and sell the ability to dependably influence its users’ behavior to third parties.” To that end, Facebook and Zuckerberg have encouraged and partnered with other companies, such as Cambridge Analytica, to collect and analyze user data, Racine says. Zuckerberg realized the more Facebook stoked “divisiveness and polarization,” the higher the user retention and the more money Facebook makes, the lawsuit argues. 

However, Zuckerberg hid these dealings and motivations from the public, engaging in “a decade-long campaign” to convince users Facebook protects their data. 

Meanwhile, behind closed doors, he insisted Facebook’s policies be “as simple as we can get away with,” according to court documents. 

Zuckerberg Allegedly Encouraged Cambridge Analytica Breach

The Cambridge Analytica breach was revealed in 2018, but Racine claims it was no surprise to Zuckerberg. 

“Facebook had both a longstanding relationship with Cambridge Analytica and also actively encouraged companies like Cambridge Analytica to use the Facebook Platform to influence and manipulate consumer behavior,” the complaint says. The 70 million users whose data was accessed accounted for more than half the total votes during the 2016 presidential elections, according to court documents. 

Further, Facebook had determined Cambridge Analytica posed a risk to consumer data, but “chose to bury those concerns rather than stop them,” Racine says.

What do you think about Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg’s role in protecting consumers’ data? Sound off in the comments below!

Racine is represented by Adam R. Teitelbaum of the Office of the D.C. Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection, Public Advocacy Division.

The Mark Zuckerberg Cambridge Analytica Lawsuit is Racine v. Mark Zuckerberg, Case No. 2022 CA 002273 B, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

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