Skip to main content

US fine on Facebook puts CEO Zuckerberg on the hook

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg could face penalties if the social network fails to comply with a settlement on privacy practices.
A record $5 billion fine slapped on Facebook by US regulators on Wednesday came with conditions that included putting chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on the hook for future privacy violations.
A 20-year order was included in the settlement, which the Federal Trade Commission said carried the largest penalty ever imposed on a company for violating consumer privacy.

Restrictions that the FTC contended were unprecedented make Facebook executives from Zuckerberg on down accountable for decisions made about privacy at the social network as well as its WhatsApp and Instagram services.

- Zuckerberg and designated officers must submit to FTC quarterly certifications that the company is in compliance with the mandated privacy program. Any false certification will subject them to individual civil and criminal penalties.

- An independent privacy committee consisting of Facebook board members must be formed and operate “unfettered” by control of the company’s dominant shareholder, Zuckerberg. The committee will select and oversee program compliance officers.

- Facebook must be more vigilant when it comes to third-party apps, terminating those that fail to comply with the platform policies or justify their need for specific user data.

- Facebook is prohibited from using telephone numbers obtained to enable a security feature for advertising, and must provide clear notice of its use of facial recognition technology.

- Facebook must encrypt user passwords and is barred from asking for email passwords to other services when people sign up for its services.

- Facebook must conduct a privacy review of every new or modified product or service before implementation, documenting its decisions.

- Facebook must document incidents in which the data of 500 or more users is compromised and what it does about such breaches, delivering the information to the FTC within 30 days.

- An outside assessor will evaluate the effectiveness of Facebook’s privacy program every other year, relying on independently gathered information and not simply facts supplied by the California-based company.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Nigerian Military hands over 23 rescued children to UNICEF through Borno State

The Nigerian military has handed over 23 children who were formerly associated with Boko Haram insurgents, to UNICEF through the Borno State government.  The children were picked up during various military operations around the north-east region. Aged between 17 and 10 years, the boys and girls confessed to the military that they have been assisting the Boko Haram insurgents either as fighters or domestic helps in the camps. The Theatre Commander of a military counterinsurgency force, Abba Dikko, said the 23 children were released in line with Nigeria military’s commitment to the observance of human rights. He observed that the children and other vulnerable persons were victims who faced with the highly unstable circumstances induced by the conflict would have had little option but to fall under the thrall of the insurgents.  “We were able to identify this category of people, especially the women, the aged and children to whom it behooves our sense of duty and res...

FRSC reinforces directive on use of google maps while driving

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has clarified its position on the use of Google Maps, The FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ayuba Gora was quoted saying that driving with the aid of Google map using mobile phones is a serious traffic offence. Gora said this at the inauguration of the 2019 Ember Months Campaign by Lugbe Unit Command of the FRSC in Abuja yesterday. But, FRSC Spokesman Bisi Kazeem making reference to Gora’s comments said the Sector Commander was quoted out of context and his statement outrightly misrepresented. Kazeem said the FRSC as a technology-driven organisation is not and has never stood against the use of Google Maps by Motorists. The statement read: “To state the obvious, we have always enlightened the public on the position of the law on the use of phone while driving. “The statement he made during the flag off buttresses the position of the Corps, which is that any driver who intends to deploy the use of Google Map...

Rihanna confirms she's headlining the Super Bowl LVII halftime show

  Rihanna has confirmed she will be headlining the 2023 Super Bowl half-time show.   The Barbadian singer, 34, announced the news Sunday September 25, by sharing a photo of her tattooed arm holding a football. The post marks Rihanna's first social media activity since giving birth to her first child in May.   The NFL also Tweeted the big news with the same snap and the message 'Let’s GO-#SBLVII' A statement released by Roc Nation founder Shawn Jay-Z Carter, read: 'Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.'  A statement from Apple Music read, 'We are thrilled to welcome Rihanna to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show stage,' shared Seth Dudowsky who is the NFL Head of Music. 'Rihanna is a once in a generation artist who has been a cultural fo...