Photo Credit to The Daily Caller
Two of Silicon Valley's largest corporations are at the center of some appalling legal charges. Social media giant Facebook is being accused of malpractice with user privacy; while search engine conglomerate Google is being blamed for monopolistic activities. With these 2 companies owning several popular properties across the internet, these charges levied against them have potentially widespread impact.
Under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook has come under antitrust fire from 8 states and the District of Columbia. The multi-state coalition behind this charge is led by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
"I am proud to be leading a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in investigating whether Facebook has stifled competition and put users at risk," James said in a statement. "We will use every investigative tool at our disposal to determine whether Facebook's actions may have endangered consumer data, reduced the quality of consumers' choices, or increased the price of advertising."
Google is under the same accusations from several states as well, as many accuse the search engine of monopolizing a wide section of the internet.
Facebook is also charged with knowingly putting its user's information and metadata at risk, as their lack of privacy has become apparent. An unsecured database server filled with user's personal phone numbers and other data recently had to be taken down by Facebook, giving many concern over the social media behemoth's privacy. "I honestly wasn't aware this number was listed in a database until now and it must be listed elsewhere because you aren't the first reporter to contact me," said one Facebook user who was contacted through a number in this database.
In summation, neither Facebook or Google have been entirely transparent when it comes to their privacy or how they manipulate user's data. Are they engaging in monopolistic activities? In some instances yes, as they have either bought out or neutralized competing sites/services to gain higher ground in the internet. Are respective state governments in the right to question these Silicon Valley tech giants? Also yes, as someone needs to be held accountable for this lack of internet security.
Photo credit to The Daily Caller
Here is the original article
Under the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook has come under antitrust fire from 8 states and the District of Columbia. The multi-state coalition behind this charge is led by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
"I am proud to be leading a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in investigating whether Facebook has stifled competition and put users at risk," James said in a statement. "We will use every investigative tool at our disposal to determine whether Facebook's actions may have endangered consumer data, reduced the quality of consumers' choices, or increased the price of advertising."
Google is under the same accusations from several states as well, as many accuse the search engine of monopolizing a wide section of the internet.
In summation, neither Facebook or Google have been entirely transparent when it comes to their privacy or how they manipulate user's data. Are they engaging in monopolistic activities? In some instances yes, as they have either bought out or neutralized competing sites/services to gain higher ground in the internet. Are respective state governments in the right to question these Silicon Valley tech giants? Also yes, as someone needs to be held accountable for this lack of internet security.
Photo credit to The Daily Caller
Here is the original article
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