US senate questioned Facebook data access to 60 smartphone manufacturers

News24xx.com - The head of the US Senate Trade Committee will question Facebook over a New York Times report that the social network company giant is opening its user data access to 60 smartphone manufacturers.

"The Commerce Committee will send a letter to Facebook to seek additional information on issues such as transparency and privacy risks" said Republican Senator, John Thune, in his statement, as quoted by Reuters on Wednesday, June 6th 2018.

Two Democratic Senators, Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal, sent a letter to Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in response to a report by The New York Times.

"The latest information that Facebook provides access to personal information of users such as religion, political preferences, and relationship status, to dozens of mobile device manufacturers without explicit user consent which is very worrying" the two said in the letter.

Facebook itself in its statement stated that they will answer any questions asked by the Trade Committee.

Facebook seems to continue to defend itself and against reports from The New York Times. Facebook also stated that this case is very different from the use of user data by third parties as in the case of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Facebook Vice President, Ime Archibong stated that the data distributed to smartphone vendors aims to improve Facebook user accessing to information."These partners are signing agreements that prevent Facebook users from being used in any other purpose than to create similar experiences like Facebook" Archibong said.

 

 

 

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