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Data row: Facebook's Zuckerberg will not appear before MPs Data row: Facebook's Zuckerberg will not appear before MPs
(about 2 hours later)
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has said he will not appear before MPs investigating fake news, but will send one of his senior executives instead. Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg's decision not to appear before MPs is "astonishing", said the committee chairman who invited him to attend.
The tech giant and data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica are at the centre of a dispute over harvesting personal data and whether it was used in Donald Trump's presidential election campaign. Damian Collins, the head a parliamentary inquiry into fake news, urged Mr Zuckerberg to "think again".
Mr Zuckerberg has apologised for a "breach of trust". Facebook and data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica are at the centre of a row over harvesting personal data.
His stand-in will give evidence to MPs after the Easter parliamentary break. Mr Zuckerberg has apologised for a "breach of trust", but said he will not appear in front of the inquiry.
Chairman of the Department for Culture Media and Sport select committee Damian Collins said Chris Cox, Facebook's chief product officer, who reports directly to Mr Zuckerberg, would give evidence in the first week after the Easter break. He will instead send one of his senior executives, Facebook's chief product officer Chris Cox, who will give evidence to MPs in the first week after the Easter parliamentary break.
Mr Collins said it was "absolutely astonishing" that Mr Zuckerberg was not prepared to submit himself for questioning, given the questions were of "fundamental importance and concern" to Facebook users and the inquiry. But Mr Collins, the chairman of the Department for Culture Media and Sport select committee, said: "Given the extraordinary evidence that we've heard so far today... it is absolutely astonishing that Mark Zuckerberg is not prepared to submit himself to questioning.
He said he would "urge him to think again if he has any care for the people who use his company's services". "These are questions of a fundamental importance and concern to Facebook users, as well as to our inquiry as well.
The select committee is currently hearing from whistleblower Christopher Wylie, who accused his former employer, Cambridge Analytica, of gathering the details of 50 million users on Facebook through a personality quiz in 2014. "I would certainly urge him to think again if he has any care for people that use his company's services."
The committee heard from whistleblower Christopher Wylie, a former Cambridge Analytica employee.
He has accused Cambridge Analytica of gathering the details of 50 million users on Facebook through a personality quiz in 2014.
He alleges that because 270,000 people took the quiz, the data of some 50 million users, mainly in the US, was harvested without their explicit consent via their friend networks.He alleges that because 270,000 people took the quiz, the data of some 50 million users, mainly in the US, was harvested without their explicit consent via their friend networks.
Mr Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica, which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Trump material to them. Mr Wylie claims the data was sold to Cambridge Analytica, which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Donald Trump material to them to assist the presidential election campaign.
In evidence, Mr Wylie was asked whether his main concern was with the use of military-inspired psychological operations in politics, he replied that was "part of it" but he had broader concerns.In evidence, Mr Wylie was asked whether his main concern was with the use of military-inspired psychological operations in politics, he replied that was "part of it" but he had broader concerns.
Cambridge Analytica or SCL (CA's parent company) "don't care whether what they do is legal" as long as they "get the job done", he said.Cambridge Analytica or SCL (CA's parent company) "don't care whether what they do is legal" as long as they "get the job done", he said.
He also criticised the company for running campaigns in struggling democracies, which he called "an example of what modern-day colonialism looks like".He also criticised the company for running campaigns in struggling democracies, which he called "an example of what modern-day colonialism looks like".
"You have a wealthy company from a developed nation going into an economy or democracy that's still struggling to get its feet on the ground - and taking advantage of that to profit from that," he told MPs."You have a wealthy company from a developed nation going into an economy or democracy that's still struggling to get its feet on the ground - and taking advantage of that to profit from that," he told MPs.
'Posh veneer''Posh veneer'
Earlier, he described his former boss, the company's CEO Alexander Nix, as a salesman with no background in politics or technology but a lot of wealth.Earlier, he described his former boss, the company's CEO Alexander Nix, as a salesman with no background in politics or technology but a lot of wealth.
On one occasion, the two of them were running late because Mr Nix had to "pick up a £200,000 chandelier", MPs heard.On one occasion, the two of them were running late because Mr Nix had to "pick up a £200,000 chandelier", MPs heard.
Mr Wylie went on to say that Mr Nix's standard sales pitch was to play on his Eton public school education and Mayfair offices to present a "posh veneer".Mr Wylie went on to say that Mr Nix's standard sales pitch was to play on his Eton public school education and Mayfair offices to present a "posh veneer".
He said Mr Nix had been "dishonest" with the committee at a hearing in February when he denied using Facebook data.He said Mr Nix had been "dishonest" with the committee at a hearing in February when he denied using Facebook data.
"Facebook data and the acquisition using Aleksandr Kogan's data-set (through the personality test) was the foundation of the company," he said."Facebook data and the acquisition using Aleksandr Kogan's data-set (through the personality test) was the foundation of the company," he said.
"That is how the algorithms were developed. They spent one million dollars at least on the acquisition of that data-set.""That is how the algorithms were developed. They spent one million dollars at least on the acquisition of that data-set."
Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former chief strategist and a director on Cambridge Analytica's board, did not care about creating that impression, said Mr Wylie.Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former chief strategist and a director on Cambridge Analytica's board, did not care about creating that impression, said Mr Wylie.
He was more interested in speaking at university events than sitting in posh offices so Mr Nix set up a fake office in Cambridge to present a more academic side of the company, Mr Wylie said.He was more interested in speaking at university events than sitting in posh offices so Mr Nix set up a fake office in Cambridge to present a more academic side of the company, Mr Wylie said.
After that, Mr Bannon decided to call the company Cambridge Analytica, he said. "In his head, it was a very academic company," he added. After that, Mr Bannon decided to call the company Cambridge Analytica, he said.
"In his head, it was a very academic company," he added.
'Nothing good'
As a whistleblower, Mr Wylie said the greatest "legal pushback" was not from Cambridge Analytica, but Facebook.As a whistleblower, Mr Wylie said the greatest "legal pushback" was not from Cambridge Analytica, but Facebook.
"They're most upset by this story," he said, and have sent some "fairly intimidating legal correspondence" although have not acted on it."They're most upset by this story," he said, and have sent some "fairly intimidating legal correspondence" although have not acted on it.
He said his motivation for going public was to bring down Cambridge Analytica and SCL, from which "nothing good" had come.He said his motivation for going public was to bring down Cambridge Analytica and SCL, from which "nothing good" had come.
Data protection specialist Paul-Olivier Dehaye also told the panel he had written to the Information Commissioner's Office in August 2016 "asking them if they were investigating Cambridge Analytica".
In a tweet, Cambridge Analytica said it was "sad" to see the "very gifted" Mr Wylie leave in July 2014 after 11 months with the company.In a tweet, Cambridge Analytica said it was "sad" to see the "very gifted" Mr Wylie leave in July 2014 after 11 months with the company.
"We took legal action purely to stop him from pitching identical services to our clients.""We took legal action purely to stop him from pitching identical services to our clients."
It added that Mr Wylie was a part-time contractor with "no direct knowledge of our work practices" since leaving in 2014.It added that Mr Wylie was a part-time contractor with "no direct knowledge of our work practices" since leaving in 2014.
Cambridge Analytica denies any of the data acquired was used as part of the services it provided to the Trump campaign.Cambridge Analytica denies any of the data acquired was used as part of the services it provided to the Trump campaign.
Facebook apologises MPs have written to Mr Nix, currently suspended from Cambridge Analytica, to ask him to return before the committee after his previous appearance in February.
Facebook apology
Over the weekend, Mr Zuckerberg took out full-page advertisements in several UK and US Sunday newspapers to apologise.Over the weekend, Mr Zuckerberg took out full-page advertisements in several UK and US Sunday newspapers to apologise.
He said his company could have done more to stop millions of users having their data exploited by Cambridge Analytica.He said his company could have done more to stop millions of users having their data exploited by Cambridge Analytica.
"This was a breach of trust, and I am sorry," the back-page ads said."This was a breach of trust, and I am sorry," the back-page ads said.
On Friday, enforcement officers from the UK's information commissioner carried out a seven-hour search of Cambridge Analytica's London offices after the High Court granted the data watchdog a warrant.
MPs have written to Mr Nix, currently suspended from Cambridge Analytica, to ask him to return before the committee after his previous appearance in February.