Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg says sorry with full-page apology across several newspapers
World's largest social media network is facing growing government scrutiny after Cambridge Analytica controversy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, has taken out full-page advertisements in multiple British newspapers apologising for a “breach of trust”.
The world’s largest social media network is facing growing government scrutiny in Europe and the United States following allegations by a whistleblower that British consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed users’ information.
Cambridge Analytica reportedly used the information to build profiles on American voters that were later used to help elect US President Donald Trump in 2016.
Mr Zuckerberg took out the advert in response to the growing outrage regarding the scandal.
“We have a responsibility to protect your information. If we can’t, we don’t deserve it,” the advert reads, signed by the Facebook founder.
The plain black text apology on a white background, with only a tiny Facebook logo, appeared in Sunday publications including The Observer – one of the newspapers whose reporting on the issue has sent Facebook’s share price tumbling.
Mr Zuckerberg said an app built by a university researcher “leaked Facebook data of millions of people in 2014”.
“This was a breach of trust, and I’m sorry we didn’t do more at the time,” Mr Zuckerberg said, reiterating an apology first made last week in US television interviews.
Cambridge Analytica says it initially believed the data had been obtained in line with data protection laws, and later deleted it at Facebook’s request.
The consultancy said it did not use the data in work it did for the 2016 US election.
Investigators from Britain’s data watchdog searched the London offices of Cambridge Analytica for several hours.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments