Facebook’s Sneaky Data Deal Saga
Just a day after Parliament released a whopping 250‑page dossier on Facebook’s “highly confidential” documents, the company’s big boss, Mark Zuckerberg, fired back at the UK’s sharp‑eyed MPs.
Why the Cabinet’s Up In Arms
- The Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee accused Facebook of sweet‑talking with select app developers to hand them extra data access.
- Chair Damian Collins said the documents “strike at the core of public interest” and that re‑leasing them was the only way to get straight answers.
- “We never sold anyone peoples’ data,” a spokesman for Facebook insisted, but the documents hinted at the opposite—at least to people who are busy reading them.
Zuckerberg’s Defence (and a Touch of Humor)
In a LinkedIn‑style post (and not a formal sorry‑note), Zuckerberg made a few points:
- “We don’t let every tech nerd build on our platform. We’ve shut down a lot of sketchy apps.”
- “We’ve kept developers from copying the entire Facebook experience and piggy‑backing on our viral engines to bring little value to users.”
- He chalked the controversy up to a healthy dose of scrutiny, arguing “the media should not misrepresent the facts—or the ironed-out policy papers that drive the platform.”
In plain English: Facebook still says it’s juggling a stable business model, but the world will be watching to see if that theory stands in front of the evidence.
What the Emails Reveal
Newly leaked internal emails show how execs—Zuckerberg included—ever met the idea of trading data for cash while keeping “it the right way.” It’s a classic “yes, we play the game” versus “no, we’re staying honest” switcheroo.
Bottom Line
While Facebook’s leaders argue it’s all about safeguarding users, the playground of data sales is still a bit hazy. Only time—and a lot of public pressure—will decide if the company’s bold claims truly match its actions.
