Facebook investigated by US Federal Trade Commission, report says

The US Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether Facebook violated terms of a consent decree covering its use of personal data, according to a report.

The FTC is examining whether Facebook allowed Cambridge Analytica to receive some user data in violation of its policies, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

News of the FTC’s investigation added to pressure on Facebook over how information about 50m of its users was obtained by Cambridge Analytica for political campaigning in the US. US senators have called for Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to explain how the personal information of millions of its users was used without their permission or knowledge.

A UK parliamentary committee investigating fake news has accused both companies of misleading MPs. The UK’s Information Commissioner told Facebook auditors to halt an investigation into Cambridge Analytica on the evening of 19 February while she sought a court warrant to raid the UK company.