Facebook CEO apologizes for data scandal: "Was my mistake"

This was a big mistake, Zuckerberg wrote in a written statement to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Monday. "It was my mistake. I am sorry. I founded Facebook, I run the company and I am responsible for what happened here."

"Extensive investments in security are likely to affect profitability in the near future", the Facebook boss warned according to the document. The company has hired additional staff in this area. "Protecting our community is more important than maximizing our profits."

Zuckerberg will answer to Congress for the first time in the data scandal on Tuesday. The hearing before the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committee is scheduled for the evening (Central European Time). It is intended to shed more light on Facebook's role in the affair.

According to the company, personal information from up to 87 million users may have been improperly passed on to the political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica in order to support President Donald Trump's election campaign two years ago.

The world's largest social network has been criticized since the scandal came to light a good three weeks ago. Among others, the US consumer protection agency FTC and the attorneys general of 37 states are investigating the case. On Wednesday, Zuckerberg will also answer questions from the House of Representatives Commerce Committee.

For "positive purposes"

"It will take some time to work through all the changes we need to make, but I am committed to getting it done," the statement continues.

Despite the confessions of regret, Zuckerberg does not want to make any concessions to his company's self-description as a creator of interpersonal connections. Facebook is "an idealistic and optimistic company" and for most of its history has been focused on the "good" that can come from bringing people together.

However, Zuckerberg explained that his company had failed to do enough to combat the misuse of its online networks. This applies to the spread of fake news and hate rhetoric, foreign interference in elections and access to user data.

"We have a responsibility not only to produce instruments, but also to ensure that these instruments are used for positive purposes."

Damage limitation

Zuckerberg has been trying to limit the damage for more than two weeks with apologies and promises of reform. The scandal potentially jeopardizes Facebook's business model, which is based on the massive collection of data about its users.

From Monday, Facebook wanted to inform all users whose information had been accessed via their central news feed. A corresponding notice was to be displayed there.

Among other things, the company now wants to monitor apps more strictly and block them if necessary - the data used by Cambridge Analytica was siphoned off using a mini-program of this kind. Facebook also wants to make it easier for its users to access functions with which they can strengthen the security of their accounts themselves.

The company also wants to monitor advertisements with political content more strictly. Zuckerberg announced on Friday that in future, such posts would have to show who is paying for the advertising. The online network wants to make manipulation attempts such as the suspected Russian cyber interventions in the 2016 US election campaign more difficult. The alleged Russian election campaign interventions will also be a topic in Zuckerberg's congressional questioning. He also vowed to do better in this area: "We were too slow to recognize and respond to Russian interference." (SDA)