Facebook discovered in 2015 that Cambridge Analytica, which later worked for the Trump campaign, had obtained Facebook data to create voter profiles. Facebook did not however disclose the information to the public until March, just before news reports were set to come out on the matter. The federal investigators want to know what Facebook knew in 2015 and why it did not reveal the problem at that time. The probe will also look at any discrepancies in more recent accounts, among other issues. The Capitol Hill testimony of Facebook officials, including chief executive Mark Zuckerberg will come under scrutiny.
Facebook confirmed that it had received questions from the federal agencies and said it was sharing information and cooperating in other ways. The Department of Justice and the other federal agencies declined to comment. The FTC in March disclosed that it was investigating Facebook over possible privacy violations. The SEC has described the investigation as “The Facebook Matter,” according sources who have seen related documents. The New York Times previously reported that the Justice Department was investigating Cambridge Analytica, which had also worked with Republican candidates besides Donald Trump.
Facebook recently confirmed it had agreements with over 50 companies, giving them special access to user data on the social network. The list, which includes names such as Amazon, Airtel, Apple, Huawei, LG, Vodafone and Spotify, was given to members of the US Congress in response to questions asked by Congress members at a hearing in April with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook said it's in the process of ending most of the integration partnerships.
