1.8 million Australian users delete Facebook after scandal

Up to 1.8million Australians have deleted their Facebook accounts in the wake of a data-sharing scandal.

One in four of Australia’s 15million users have either deleted Facebook or reclaimed some of the personal information they share on the site, research by Pure Profile found.

It comes as Roy Morgan’s Media Net Trust Survey named social media as ‘the least trustworthy’ type of media – with Facebook named as the most distrusted network.  

In April, the social network apologised after political consultancy Cambridge Analytica obtained sensitive information on 87million of its 2.2billion users.

Up to 1.8million Australians have deleted their Facebook accounts in the way of the data-sharing scandal. Pictured: CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg faced questions from MEPs in Brussels in May

The firm allegedly used the information to influence the outcome of the 2016 US election.

Facebook in May announced there would be no payout for anyone who had their data breached.   

CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised for the data breach but was slammed after a bizarre Q&A format in the EU Parliament allowed him to dodge several questions. 

Cambridge Analytica used the data of millions of Facebook users to personalise adverts during political campaigns, including the US presidential vote. 

EU lawmakers argued in May that it made Facebook liable for compensation toward EU users.

But the social network claimed no bank account details had been shared.  And it said there was no evidence EU user data had been involved.

Damian Collins, chair of the British Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee hit out against Zuckerberg after a grilling in Brussels

Facebook in May announced there would be no payout for anyone who had their data breached. Pictured: Zuckerberg faced MEPs in Brussels in May

Facebook in May announced there would be no payout for anyone who had their data breached. Pictured: Zuckerberg faced MEPs in Brussels in May

He said: ‘What a missed opportunity for proper scrutiny on many crucial questions raised by the MEPs.

‘Questions were blatantly dodged on shadow profiles, sharing data between WhatsApp and Facebook, the ability to opt out of political advertising and the true scale of data abuse on the platform.

‘Unfortunately, the format of questioning allowed Mr Zuckerberg to cherry-pick his responses and not respond to each individual point.

‘I echo the clear frustration of colleagues in the room who felt the discussion was shut down.

‘It is time that Mr Zuckerberg agreed to appear in front of the DCMS committee to provide Facebook users the answers they deserve.’

Zuckerberg took questions from US lawmakers earlier this year.



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