Facebook users are being urged to stop using the social media platform for one day in protest against the company’s involvement in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The Faceblock campaign has been planned to coincide with Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance before US Congress on Wednesday, where the Facebook chief executive will be testifying about data privacy issues.

The international group of campaigners is asking people to take part in a day of online protest by refusing to use Facebook’s platforms and apps, including Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram, for 24 hours.

Laura Ullman, spokeswoman for the campaign, said the group was concerned about data privacy and how the company had been regulated. “We wanted to organise some direct action where lots of people could say that they love Facebook but want to see it improved. By not using the platform for a day, it’s a virtual demonstration that is easy to do but will send a powerful message that we demand better,” she said.

Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook chief executive, will testify before Congress on Wednesday. Photograph: Stephen Lam/Reuters

“We chose the day as we want to show Zuckerberg and also the US government that we want change. It’s Facebook’s responsibility to manage their platform, but it’s also the responsibility of governments to ensure companies protect data and to regulate monopolies.”

Some users have said they are considering deleting their Facebook account completely, but Ullman said this was not feasible for everyone and that many still liked using Facebook and its other platforms. “Not everyone has the privilege to do so. Facebook has created a monopoly and in some countries the only point of entry to the internet is through Facebook. It is often the only source of news in some places,” she said.

“Facebook has also become a platform for community organising, so why should those people have to suffer because of bad policies of a company? Why should they have to give up their involvement in the community in order to take a stand against a company that has not been regulated properly, that’s had improper policies and that has abused the trust of its users?



“Individuals shouldn’t be forced to look out for themselves when the problem comes from the way the system is set up.”

People can participate in #faceblock by joining the Facebook event and sending their own messages to Zuckerberg and their governments, Ullman said.

Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook in 2004, will be testifying before the House energy and commerce committee, which is examining Facebook’s “use and protection of user data”. He has also agreed to testify before a joint hearing of the Senate judiciary and commerce committees on Tuesday.