Facebook Sued by Australian Privacy Regulator Citing Illegal Use of User Data

The Australian privacy regulator becomes the latest complainant to sue social media network giant Facebook Inc. (FB) for matters related to misuse of user data. The regulator is accusing Facebook of illegal use of user data whereby the regulator claims Facebook shared personal data of 311,127 individuals with Cambridge Analytica without any permission.

In a lawsuit the regulator is accusing Facebook of breaching user data laws by revealing 311,127 users’ personal data to the British political consulting company.

The Australian Information Commissioner Angelene Falk, said Facebook illegally shared the data through a survey product dubbed ‘This is Your Digital Life’ on its website.

“The design of the Facebook platform meant that users were unable to exercise reasonable choice and control about how their personal information was disclosed,” said Falk.

In the lawsuit filed in an Australian federal court, the regulator is seeking unspecified amount of damages further saying the breach of privacy law could attract a penalty amounting up to A$1.7 million ($1.1 million).

In a scenario where the court awards the maximum amount to each of the 311,127 affected persons, Facebook would end up paying a fine of A$529 billion.

Mid last year Facebook ended paying up $5 billion after it was fined by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission following a similar allegation of breach of user data which took place between 2014 and 2015.

According to the probe, Facebook shared user data of up to 87 million users globally with a survey tool initiated by the same Cambridge Analytica. The probe also mentioned U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign as one of Cambridge Analytica’s clients.