Effort comes as FTC investigates Facebook in wake of repeated and massive privacy breaches

Washington (January 25, 2019) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, released the following statement after media stories report that Facebook plans to integrate its messaging services WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger. In March 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) confirmed that it is investigating Facebook’s privacy practices, and in the wake of repeated privacy invasions at Facebook, Senator Markey has voiced concern that Facebook has run afoul of its 2011 consent decree with the FTC.

“When it comes to privacy, we can no longer give Facebook the benefit of the doubt,” said Senator Markey. “We have heard a lot from Facebook about how it is committed to changing course and protecting its users’ information, but the company repeatedly has ignored its promises. Now that Facebook plans to integrate its messaging services, we need more than mere assurances from the company that this move will not come at the expense of users’ data privacy and security. We cannot allow platform integration to become privacy disintegration.”  

Senator Markey has been joined by his colleagues in writing the FTC about concerns about its investigation into the company in light of the government shutdown, querying Facebook about data sharing with device companies, and expressing concerns that Facebook policies leave children’s privacy unprotected.

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