Facebook under probe in Australia in Cambridge Analytica case

The Australian Privacy Commissioner has launched a formal investigation into social media giant Facebook in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Facebook estimates 311,000 Australians are among the 87 million users worldwide whose data may have been compromised. The company does not know "precisely what data the app shared" with data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica, ABC reports. According to acting Information and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk, the Australian investigation will coordinate with international authorities.

Facebook revealed more than 300,000 Australians may have had their private data used without their knowledge. Acting Information and Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk said the probe will determine whether Facebook had breached Australia's Privacy Act. The commissioner can issue fines of up to AUD 2.1 million for this breach of regulations. "Given the global nature of this matter, the [Office of the Australian Information Commissioner] will confer with regulatory authorities internationally", Falk said.

Facebook has recently revealed that up to 87 million users may have been affected worldwide. The majority of those users are in the US, where the Trump-affiliated, data-analysis firm Cambridge Analytica has been accused of tapping profiles without users' permission in order to influence elections, including during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The Federal Government declined to comment on the investigation, saying it would await the commissioner's findings.