Blog #8: Apology? I Think Not!

    Over the years, Facebook has had its fair share of challenges. From its expansion outside of college campuses in the U.S. to its initial public offering in 2012, the tech and social media giant is no stranger to legal and social policy. However, one of the biggest and most prevalent litigations concerning Facebook in recent times revolves around consumer privacy and data security. 

    After it was revealed that Facebook shared data with outside sources such as Amazon, Spotify, Microsoft, and Netflix, many users became angry and frustrated with the company, feeling as through it had breached their trust by making their personal information vulnerable to outside access. As a result, the company was taken to court over the matter, Zuckerberg himself testifying in front of Congress regarding user security (NBC News). During this hearing, Zuckerberg was questioned about Facebook's usage of consumer data and asked personal questions such as "whether or not [he] would feel comfortable sharing [his] private information." Also, during Congress' questioning it was revealed that the private information of over 87 million unsuspecting Facebook users was leaked to outside sources and concerns were raised regarding the length and legal complexity of the company's user agreement contract. 

    As a result of the hearing, Zuckerberg issued an apology, stating on behalf of Facebook that "we didn't take a broad enough view of our responsibility [to protect user data] and that was a big mistake, and it was my mistake. And I'm sorry." However, throughout the hearing, it was obvious that Zuckerberg was not fully owning up to Facebook's breach of consumer trust. For example, Kara Swisher, Executive Editor of Recode stated, "they were certainly not getting really clear answers to how this happened and then what they can do to prevent it in the future." Facebook's poor explanation on how they would solve the problem of data leaking in the future was met head on merely a few months later when a bug revealed the posts of up to 14 million users (NBC News). And again later that year when a security flaw allowed and unknown party to take over nearly 50 million accounts. 

    Not only was Zuckerberg's apology lackluster at best, but it failed to express exactly how the company would regain user trust and ensure the end of consumer information leaks. In an attempt to turn around their past and current position regarding social scrutiny, the company must take great strides to shift their priorities in favor of protecting user information, which can only start from a better, more detailed apology. 

Works Cited for Blog #7 and #8

Abbruzzese, Jason, and Jasmine Boyce. “Facebook's 2018 Timeline: Scandals, Hearings and Security Bugs.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 30 Dec. 2018, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-s-2018-timeline-scandals-hearings-security-bugs-n952796?icid=related. 

Cappetta, Michael. “Facebook Apologizes after Security Flaw Exposes Unpublished Photos.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 14 Dec. 2018, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/facebook-apologizes-after-security-flaw-exposes-unpublished-photos-n948051. 

Frenkel, Sheera, and Daisuke Wakabayashi. “Facebook Faces New Antitrust Lawsuit.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/04/technology/facebook-antitrust-lawsuit-phhhoto.html. 

Lazare, Aaron. "Go Ahead Say You're Sorry." Psychology Today, vol. 28, no. 1, 01, 1995, pp. 40-43+. ProQuest, http://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/go-ahead-say-youre-sorry/docview/214241510/se-2?accountid=14749.

Madrigal, Alexis C. “Facebook Didn't Sell Your Data; It Gave It Away.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 20 Dec. 2018, https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/12/facebooks-failures-and-also-its-problems-leaking-data/578599/. 

“Mark Zuckerberg Testimony as It Happened: Facebook CEO Grilled by Senators.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 10 Apr. 2018, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/blog/mark-zuckerberg-testimony-live-blog-facebook-ceo-testify-congress-n863926. 

Montcheuil, Data Insights By Yves de, and Yves de Montcheuil. “43 Percent of Marketing Organizations Sell Data.” InfoWorld, InfoWorld, 24 Nov. 2014, https://www.infoworld.com/article/2851396/43-percent-of-marketing-organizations-sell-data.html. 

Newcomb, Alyssa. “Facebook Data Harvesting Scandal Widens to 87 Million People.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 5 Apr. 2018, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/facebook-data-harvesting-scandal-widens-87-million-people-n862771. 

Published by Statista Research Department, and Nov 1. “Number of Monthly Active Facebook Users Worldwide as of 3rd Quarter 2021 (in Millions).” Statista, 1 Nov. 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264810/number-of-monthly-active-facebook-users-worldwide/. 

Saracsalinas. “Mark Zuckerberg Has Been Talking and Apologizing about Privacy since 2003 - Here's a Reminder of What He's Said.” CNBC, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2018, https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/19/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-privacy-apologies.html. 

Solon, Olivia, and Cyrus Farivar. “Mark Zuckerberg Leveraged Facebook User Data to Fight Rivals and Help Friends, Leaked Documents Show.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 18 Apr. 2019, https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/mark-zuckerberg-leveraged-facebook-user-data-fight-rivals-help-friends-n994706.

 The Mind Tools Content Team. “Smart Goals: – How to Make Your Goals Achievable.” Time Management Training From MindTools.com, https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/smart-goals.htm.