Cambridge Analytica

To protect user privacy online, governments need to reconsider their use of opt-in policies

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

Consumers are not too happy with these requests and some even look for ways to avoid them.

Key Points: 
  • Consumers are not too happy with these requests and some even look for ways to avoid them.
  • These pop-ups are in response to recent data protection and privacy regulations, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation and California’s Consumer Privacy Act.

Commodification of user data

  • Almost every website — both for-profit and not-for-profit — commodifies user data.
  • Within the first three seconds of opening a web page, over 80 third parties on average have accessed your information.
  • The usage of user data by third parties can be helpful, as it is an easy way for companies to earn money and it can easily connect consumers to any resources they are looking for.

The impact of privacy policies

  • Previously, we analyzed the privacy implications of website monetization strategies and the prediction of website trustworthiness by observing their third-party usage.
  • Recently, our focus has shifted to studying the impact of data regulation on consumers and websites to understand the impact of new privacy policies.
  • We collected third-party utilization of the most popular 100,000 websites globally when California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into effect.

Learning from past mistakes

  • In Canada, where privacy regulation is not yet finalized, there is an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of other regulators.
  • As our research has found, opt-in policies are counterproductive in addressing third-party data-sharing concerns and can harm competition.
  • Instead, we recommend using a mix of policies that are used in a more precise manner, rather than the currently preferred one-size-fits-all policies.
  • Hooman Hidaji receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
  • Ram Gopal receives funding from The Gillmore Centre for Financial Technology at the Warwick Business School.

Threads: new Twitter rival looks like a shrewd move but Meta lacks credibility

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 7, 2023

Zuckerberg, who is chief executive of Threads’ parent company Meta, says that at least 30 million users signed up in the app’s first day.

Key Points: 
  • Zuckerberg, who is chief executive of Threads’ parent company Meta, says that at least 30 million users signed up in the app’s first day.
  • According to some speculative reporting, Threads might be a reliable alternative to Twitter.
  • Since the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk in October 2022, Twitter has developed a reputation for making hasty decisions regarding user data, safety and the reliable functioning of the site.
  • However, it is important to note that Meta has a substantial user base and robust staff infrastructure on its side.

Mass migration

    • A mass migration has already begun.
    • In November 2022, 130,000 users signed up daily to use that platform.
    • Mastodon is a “non-federated” system, meaning that each computer server is run by a different administrator.
    • Then, users with existing Facebook, Messenger or WhatsApp profiles will automatically have access to a Threads account.

Trust issues

    • According to researchers at Northwestern University, trust in Twitter dipped slightly after Musk took over.
    • However, a new social networking proposition from Meta will not, by itself, enhance trust in Meta, and this is crucial for increasing Thread’s unique users.
    • There have been instances of racism, misogyny, antisemitic rhetoric and abusive speech towards the LGBTQ+ community on Twitter.

FTC Proposes Blanket Prohibition Preventing Facebook from Monetizing Youth Data

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 3, 2023

This is the third time the FTC has taken action against Facebook for allegedly failing to protect users’ privacy.

Key Points: 
  • This is the third time the FTC has taken action against Facebook for allegedly failing to protect users’ privacy.
  • In 2019, Facebook agreed to a second order—which took effect in 2020—resolving claims that it violated the FTC’s first order.
  • In certain circumstances, Facebook continued to allow third-party app developers to access that user data until mid-2020.
  • The proposed changes to the 2020 order, which would apply to Facebook and Meta’s other services such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus, include:
  • In seeking modifications to the 2020 order, the FTC has formally asked Meta to respond in 30 days to the proposed findings from the agency’s investigation.
  • The Commission voted 3-0 to issue the Order to Show Cause.
  • NOTE: The Commission’s issuance of its Order to Show Cause marks the beginning of a proceeding in which Meta will have an opportunity to respond.

Keller Rohrback L.L.P.: Claims Can Now Be Submitted in Historic Facebook Privacy Settlement

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 20, 2023

The $725 million settlement in In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation , the class action arising out of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, is the largest privacy class action settlement in the United States.

Key Points: 
  • The $725 million settlement in In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation , the class action arising out of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, is the largest privacy class action settlement in the United States.
  • Class members can now submit claims in this case at the following web address: https://facebookuserprivacysettlement.com/

Keller Rohrback L.L.P.: Preliminary Approval Granted in Historic Facebook Privacy Settlement

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 30, 2023

Today Judge Chhabria granted preliminary approval of the $725 million settlement in In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litig.

Key Points: 
  • Today Judge Chhabria granted preliminary approval of the $725 million settlement in In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litig.
  • To date, this is the largest privacy class action settlement in the United States.
  • Co-Lead Counsel Derek Loeser of Keller Rohrback L.L.P .
  • are pleased that the Court has preliminarily approved this historic privacy settlement of claims against Facebook and look forward to completing the approval process as quickly as possible.

High Court clears way for case against Facebook to proceed

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 30, 2023

7 March 2023

Key Points: 
  • 7 March 2023
    The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) today welcomed the Full Court of the High Court of Australia’s decision to revoke Facebook Inc’s special leave to appeal to the High Court.
  • The substantive proceeding seeking civil penalties against Facebook Ireland and Facebook Inc over the Cambridge Analytica matter will now progress.
  • Facebook Inc appealed the 14 September 2020 decision, and on 7 February 2022, the Full Federal Court dismissed Facebook Inc’s appeal.
  • The proceeding will return to the Federal Court and the substantive proceeding seeking civil penalties against Facebook Ireland and Facebook Inc will now progress.

High Court clears way for OAIC case against Facebook to proceed

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 14, 2023

High Court clears way for OAIC case against Facebook to proceed

Key Points: 
  • High Court clears way for OAIC case against Facebook to proceed
    The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) today welcomed the Full Court of the High Court of Australia’s decision to revoke Facebook Inc’s special leave to appeal to the High Court.
  • The substantive proceeding seeking civil penalties against Facebook Ireland and Facebook Inc over the Cambridge Analytica matter will now progress.
  • Facebook Inc appealed the 14 September 2020 decision, and on 7 February 2022, the Full Federal Court dismissed Facebook Inc’s appeal.
  • The proceeding will return to the Federal Court and the substantive proceeding seeking civil penalties against Facebook Ireland and Facebook Inc will now progress.

Gurobi Appoints Duke Perrucci as Chief Executive Officer

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 2, 2023

The Board has appointed Gurobi's current COO, Duke Perrucci, to serve as CEO.

Key Points: 
  • The Board has appointed Gurobi's current COO, Duke Perrucci, to serve as CEO.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230101005013/en/
    Dr. Rothberg served as Chief Operating Officer from the co-founding of Gurobi in 2008 until 2015, when he was appointed CEO.
  • Perrucci joined Gurobi in 2018 as Chief Revenue Officer and was instrumental in building and leading the company's sales and marketing teams.
  • His role as Chief Scientist and Chairman will allow us to continue working just as closely," explained Perrucci.

Keller Rohrback L.L.P.: Plaintiffs Seek Court Approval of $725 Million Settlement in Facebook Cambridge Analytica Consumer Privacy Class Action

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 23, 2022

: Facebook User Plaintiffs and Defendant Facebook have agreed to resolve In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litig., No.

Key Points: 
  • : Facebook User Plaintiffs and Defendant Facebook have agreed to resolve In re: Facebook, Inc. Consumer Privacy User Profile Litig., No.
  • 3:18-md-02843-VC, the class action arising out of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, for $725 million—the largest settlement ever of a privacy class action in the United States.
  • Today, Plaintiffs filed a motion seeking preliminary approval of the settlement.
  • The parties notified the Court of a settlement in principle in August and after months of additional negotiations have now filed the details of the settlement with the Court.