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BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg arrived to meet European Union lawmakers on Tuesday ready to apologise for a massive data leak, in his latest attempt to draw a line under a scandal that has rocked the world’s biggest social media network.
Zuckerberg agreed to meet leaders of the European Parliament to answer questions about how political consultancy Cambridge Analytica improperly got hold of the personal data of 87 million Facebook users, including up to 2.7 million in the EU.
According to pre-released remarks, Zuckerberg will say it has become clear “over the last couple of years that we haven’t done enough to prevent the tools we’ve built from being used for harm as well.”
“Whether it’s fake news, foreign interference in elections or developers misusing people’s information, we didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibilities. That was a mistake, and I’m sorry.”
His comments echo an apology last month to U.S. lawmakers, but questions remain over how Facebook let the leak happen and whether it is doing enough to prevent a recurrence.
Zuckerberg’s appearance in Brussels comes three days before tough new EU rules on data protection take effect. Companies will be subject to fines of up to 4 percent of global turnover for breaching them.
Zuckerberg will stress Facebook’s commitment to Europe, where it expects to employ 10,000 people by the end of the year.
“I believe deeply in what we’re doing. And when we address these challenges, I know we’ll look back and view helping people connect and giving more people a voice as a positive force here in Europe and around the world,” he will say.
Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook has suspended 200 apps from its platforms as it investigates third-party apps that have access to large quantities of user data.
Cambridge Analytica and its British parent, SCL Elections Ltd, have declared bankruptcy and closed down.
But some European officials want a tougher line on big technology firms. Tommaso Valletti, chief economist at the European Commission’s competition unit, said earlier on Tuesday Facebook and other technology giants could face more regulatory scrutiny because of their market power.
Facebook’s compliance with the new EU data rules will be closely watched, as will its efforts to tackle the spread of fake news ahead of European Parliamentary elections next year.
After plunging when the data leak scandal broke in March, Facebook shares have recovered, helped by stronger-than-expected quarterly results.
Zuckerberg will go on to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday but has so far declined to appear in front of British lawmakers.
To view a graphic on Facebook shares this year, click: reut.rs/2LlgS0Y
Reporting by Julia Fioretti, Editing by Larry King and Mark Potter
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