Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg set to be summoned before MPs over data sharing allegations

Liz Bates

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg could be hauled in front of a Commons committee to face questions over his company’s data sharing practices.



Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Damian Collins, has written to the technology mogul after allegations surfaced of unauthorised data sharing by the social media giant.

An investigation into data firm Cambridge Analytica has led to questions over how the company acquired and kept information about Facebook users without their consent.

The UK firm worked on the Donald Trump election campaign in the US to help target social media advertising, but has denied claims it was involved in the Brexit campaign.

In a statement, Mr Collins said: "Data has been taken from Facebook users without their consent, and was then processed by a third party and used to support their campaigns.

"I will be writing to Mark Zuckerberg asking that either he, or another senior executive from the company, appear to give evidence in front of the Committee as part our inquiry."

According to the Observer and the New York Times, Cambridge Analytica received information from data collection firm Global Science Research, some of which was unauthorised content taken from Facebook users.

Mr Collins said Cambridge Analytica chief executive Alexander Nix, had "deliberately mislead" MPs when questioned about the company’s dealings with GSR.

He also accused Facebook of failing to cooperate with the committee by giving "false reassurance" over its data protection measures.

He added: "Someone has to take responsibility for this. It's time for Mark Zuckerberg to stop hiding behind his Facebook page."