Facebook's big tech data deals are under criminal investigation: NYT

  • 5 years ago
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA — Facebook is now under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors for data-sharing deals it struck with other tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Sony, according to the New York Times.

Two anonymous sources told the New York Times that at least two high-profile electronic companies have been subpoenaed to provide records to a grand jury in New York. The files are said to concern the companies' partnerships with Facebook.

Facebook had previously let companies view users' friends and contact information among other data, according to the New York Times. This information was sometimes given without consent. The social network says it has phased out most of these partnerships over the last two years.

Facebook is also under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission for the Cambridge Analytica scandal where third-party apps were allowed access to access user data.

According to the New York Times, Facebook could be hit with a multi-billion dollar fine for violating user privacy.

The social network released a statement saying that they are quote "cooperating with investigators and take those probes seriously." They added that they have "provided testimonies," "answered questions" and will "continue to do so."