Zuckerberg Response to Scandal Fails to Quiet Critics

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke about the crisis over Cambridge Analytica’s access to user data on the social network, but many critics are not happy with his response, according to Bloomberg.

By pledging to investigate whether Cambridge Analytica still holds the information it obtained from a third-party app creator, and broadening the probe to other developers that may have run afoul of Facebook’s rules, Zuckerberg took a step in the right direction, according to lawmakers, investors and users. But it wasn’t enough to end the criticism, some remained skeptical the company is doing enough.

“This isn’t going to cut it,“ David Cicilline, a Democratic U.S. representative from Rhode Island, said in a Facebook post responding to the CEO’s statement. “Mark Zuckerberg needs to testify before Congress.“ That sentiment was echoed by other lawmakers in the U.S. and Europe.

Antonio Tajani, the President of the European Parliament, said in Twitter post that many questions remain unanswered. “I look forward to him giving further explanations before the elected representatives of over 500 million European citizens,“ he said.

German Justice Minister Katarina Barley said that she will ask Facebook officials to provide an explanation in person. Matt Hancock, a senior U.K. lawmaker, said: "It shouldn’t be for a company to decide what is the appropriate balance between privacy and innovation. The big tech companies need to abide by the law and we’re strengthening the law.

Facebook’s board followed up on Zuckerberg’s statement with its own, responding to critics. “Mark and Sheryl know how serious this situation is and are working with the rest of Facebook leadership to build stronger user protections,“ Sue Desmond-Hellmann, the lead director of Facebook’s board, said in a statement.