Today Facebook will notify 87 million users that their data was the subject of data breach
Initially thought to affect 50 million accounts, it later transpired that as many as 87 million Facebook users were affected by the Cambridge Analytica data harvesting scandal. Today, the social network is due to send a message to those whose data was involved.
While the bulk of affected users -- around 70 million -- live in the US, there are also significant numbers in Europe, Facebook's message is said to be "detailed" and will appear in news feeds at some point today.
See also:
- Facebook suspends pro-Brexit firm AggregateIQ for allegedly obtaining user data improperly
- Privacy: Facebook will roll out GDPR controls to the whole world, not just Europe
- Facebook places full-page ads in British and American newspapers to apologize for Cambridge Analytica data leak
- Facebook suspends Trump campaign's data analytics team, Cambridge Analytica, for harvesting private information of 50 million users
In the wake of the privacy scandal, Facebook pledged to, "tell people if their information may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica" and this is the company making good on its promise.
Following the social network's introduction of new privacy and app deletion tools, all 2.2 billion Facebook users will also see a "Protecting Your Information" message in their news feed which will contain information about improving privacy. Users will be directed to the newly-created tools that make it easier to delete apps that have been installed, or revoke the privileges they have been granted.
Later this week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is due to testify in front of congress after initially saying he would not do so.
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