Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., is urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Facebook for violating antitrust laws.
Cicilline’s comments came in a column posted by The New York Times on Tuesday.
“A year ago, the world learned that Facebook allowed a political consulting company called Cambridge Analytica to exploit the personal information of up to 87 million users, to obtain data that would help the company’s clients “fight a culture war” in America,” he said.
“Since then, a torrent of reports has revealed that the Cambridge Analytica scandal was part of a much broader pattern of misconduct by Facebook.”
And, he claimed Facebook also has “engaged in campaigns to obstruct congressional oversight to smear and discredit critics.”
Cicilline noted that after each incident becomes public, Facebook alternates between “denial, hollow promises and apology campaigns.”
But he maintained nothing seems to change.
“That’s why, as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, I am calling for an investigation into whether Facebook’s conduct has violated antitrust laws” he said.
Cicilline maintained reports also indicate a “disturbing pattern of anticompetitive conduct” on the part of Facebook.
And he said how the FTC responds to “repeated abuses” by Facebook will determine whether it is willing to protect consumers.
“It’s clear that serious enforcement is long overdue,” he said.
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