The office of the Washington, DC attorney general declared on Wednesday that it is registering a legal action against Facebook over the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

People came to know about this scandal, after it was reported that Facebook had divulged the data of tens of millions of users, by sharing data with an academic that in turn was acquired by the data firm. Although Facebook, CEO Mark Zuckerberg was summoned to swear before the Congress after the revelation of the fact. Since, Cambridge Analytica has unfolded, it can be said that the suit is the first major government measure taken in the United States against Facebook over the occurrence.

The lawsuit claims that lack of privacy standards around third-party apps and partner organizations enabled an episode like the data leak to occur. The suit also states that the company misinterpreted third-party developers’ ability to acquire data.

According to the lawsuit, Facebook breached the Consumer Protection Procedures Act via its actions. The attorney general’s office is looking for civil penalties for the case and can charge great amount if the case goes to trial and the allegations are proven.

Attorney General Karl Racine in a statement stated that Facebook flunked to safeguard the privacy of its users and cheated users about who are having access to the data and the way it was used. He even added that Facebook have placed the users at risk by authorizing companies such as Cambridge Analytica and other third-party applications to gather personal data without the permission of the users’. The lawsuit filed against Facebook is to make Facebook keep up to its promise to safeguard the users’ privacy.

Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal first unfurled, Facebook has come under rising investigation over the handling of data. In recent days, the company has been chastised over its collaboration with other businesses and serious disclosure of user data.