UK labels Facebook a 'Digital Gangster'

A scathing report from British Parliament says Facebook is an out-of-control train wreck that is destroying democracy and must be brought under control. The report labels Facebook a “digital gangster”. It considers itself to be “ahead of and beyond the law”. It “misled” parliament. It gave statements that were “not true”. Its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has treated British lawmakers with “contempt”. It has pursued a “deliberate” strategy to deceive parliament.

Mike Schroepfer, Facebook’s chief technical officer, is accused of lying.

The report drew from 170 written submissions and evidence from 73 witnesses who were asked more than 4,350 questions. Facebook was wheeling and dealing with users’ data. It traded access to their friends’ data with companies prepared to buy its advertising. Facebook shut off access for others because it viewed them as “competition.” Emails between executives reeked of open extortion.