FACEBOOK shares plunged yesterday as the social media giant is pounded by criticism at home and abroad over revelations that a firm working for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign harvested and misused data on 50 million members.

Calls for investigations came from both sides of the Atlantic after Facebook responded to explosive reports of misuse of its data by suspending the account of Cambridge Analytica, a British firm hired by Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican John Kennedy called on Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg to appear before Congress, along with Google and Twitter’s chief executive officers.

The lawmakers said the companies “have amassed unprecedented amounts of personal data”, and that the lack of oversight “raises concerns about the integrity of American elections, as well as privacy rights”.

Facebook’s chief of security, Alex Stamos, said his role has shifted to focusing on emerging risks and election security at the global social network.

Stamos revealed the change after The New York Times reported that he is leaving Facebook in the wake of internal clashes over how to deal with the platform being used to spread misinformation.

“Despite the rumours, I’m still fully engaged with my work at Facebook,” Stamos said in a message posted on his verified Twitter account.

“It’s true that my role did change. I’m currently spending more time exploring emerging security risks and working on election security.”

He advocates for investigating and revealing the manipulation of news at the social network by Russian entities, to the chagrin of other top executives, said the Times, citing unnamed current and former employees.

Profiles weaponised?

Senator Ron Wyden asked Facebook to provide more information on what he called a “troubling” misuse of private data that could have been used to sway voters.

Wyden said he wants to know how Cambridge Analytica used Facebook tools “to weaponise detailed psychological profiles against tens of millions of Americans”.

In Europe, officials voiced similar outrage.

Vera Jourova, the European commissioner for justice, consumers and gender equality, called the revelations “horrifying, if confirmed”, and vowed to address concerns in the US this week.

According to a joint investigation by the Times and Britain’s Observer, Cambridge Analytica was able to create psychological profiles on 50 million Facebook users through the use of a personality prediction app that was downloaded by 270,000 people, but also scooped up data from friends.

Cambridge Analytica denied misusing Facebook data for the Trump campaign.

Elizabeth Denham, Britain’s information commissioner who regulates the sector in the country, announced that her office will seek a court warrant today to search Cambridge Analytica’s computer servers.

She said the company has been “uncooperative” to requests for access to its records, and missed a deadline yesterday.

Meanwhile, Facebook said it has hired a digital forensics firm to examine how the data leak occurred, and to ensure that any data collected has been destroyed.

Facebook shares skidded 6.8% by the close of the Nasdaq, amid concerns about pressure for new regulations that could hurt its business model.

Shares slipped another 1% or so to US$170 (RM680) in after-market trades. – AFP, March 20, 2018.