4 ms·

So, FB gave some companies preferential access after removing it for devs, they surreptitiously collected phone data after given permission to, used cross-busin

So, FB gave some companies preferential access after removing it for devs, they surreptitiously collected phone data after given permission to, used cross-business analytics for M&A or competition info, was choosy and chatty about who got what data and its value. I agree there are clear immoralities at play, especially with collecting phone call info, but not sure that it is worthy of a government inquiry of such size. Much of this is standard business and worthy of being decried as other immoral business acts might. Would we expect such an inquiry for any other company or are there politics at play? I feel the Cambridge Analytica issue is more which hunt than a real-harm-exacted issue. How would one quantify the harm? Is this vengeance for Brexit, Trump, and/or Zuck no-show? All I've learned is to be cautious when having email conversations on sensitive subjects (no paper trail) and to be cautious when flying execs to the UK and to be cautious having any real business there for fear of having confidential information raided and published. Obviously it's not standard practice but, as with other government-imposed internet tactics of late, as a business owner it just marks an increase on my "riskometer" that I use to evaluate where to do business.

steve_gh 8y ago
WRT doing business in the UK. You need to understand that this is a highly unusual situation. Part of the UK Parliamentary system is that there are "Select Committees"on MPs, whose job is to review and hold to account the performance of government bodies and departments. They may also review areas of national interest within their remit, and invite witnesses to give evidence to them. For example, there have been significant problems with a rail timetable change recently, and the Transport Select Committee invited the heads of various rail companies to give evidence. You don't not turn up - an invitation from a select committee to give evidence has the same sort of weight as a court summons to give evidence. So Zuck was invited to give evidence to the Digital Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (DCMS), investigating the impact of Fake News on politics. Twice (at least). Both times he sent a minion. DCMS then set up a Grand Committee hearing, with parliamentarians from a bunch of other countries (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, Latvia, Singapore and UK), and invited Zuck. Again, no show. So basically, since Zuck gave a whole bunch of governments the finger, the Uk government used its powers to collect relevant evidence. I would suggest that unless you are a) the CEO of a Unicorn, or b) Currently suing a Unicorn and c) that Unicorn is giving the finger to a government You need have no fear of doing business in the UK
- chrisseaton 8y ago
  > an invitation from a select committee to give evidence has the same sort of weight as a court summons to give evidence It doesn't! As you say yourself, one is a summons, the other is nothing more than an invitation to attend.
  - timthorn 8y ago
    From: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmliaisn/697/697we36.htm https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmli...: "If a Select Committee wishes to require the attendance of a witness, an informal request is issued. If the witness is unwilling, a period of negotiation usually follows. If it is clear that the witness is not willing to attend, and the Committee wishes to insist, an order for attendance is made by the Committee, signed by the Chair, and then served upon the witness by the Serjeant at Arms or the Serjeant’s representative."
    - chrisseaton 8y ago
      People don’t think that ‘order’ actually has any effective legal power though. https://www.consoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Select-Committees-and-Coercive-Powers-Clarity-or-Confusion.pdf https://www.consoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Select-... https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.theweek.co.uk/93679/can-mps-force-people-to-testify%3famp https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.theweek.co.uk/93679/can-mps...
      - blibble 8y ago
        that may be the case, but snubbing reasonable requests from an institution with essentially unlimited power in its own domain is unlikely to end well for you if you want to remain operating there
  - steve_gh 8y ago
    Strictly, you may be right - it is not a criminal offence to ignore an invitation form a select committee. I believe (but may be wrong), that the committee can request Parliament to consider the matter, and at that point the Sargent at Arms (who does have legal powers) can fetch you to appear at the bar (entrance to) the House of Commons chamber. Practically speaking, no-one in their right mind, based in the UK, ignores an invitation to attend a Select Committee hearing. Very bad form :-)

steve_gh 8y ago

WRT doing business in the UK. You need to understand that this is a highly unusual situation. Part of the UK Parliamentary system is that there are "Select Committees"on MPs, whose job is to review and hold to account the performance of government bodies and departments. They may also review areas of national interest within their remit, and invite witnesses to give evidence to them. For example, there have been significant problems with a rail timetable change recently, and the Transport Select Committee invited the heads of various rail companies to give evidence. You don't not turn up - an invitation from a select committee to give evidence has the same sort of weight as a court summons to give evidence. So Zuck was invited to give evidence to the Digital Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (DCMS), investigating the impact of Fake News on politics. Twice (at least). Both times he sent a minion. DCMS then set up a Grand Committee hearing, with parliamentarians from a bunch of other countries (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Ireland, Latvia, Singapore and UK), and invited Zuck. Again, no show. So basically, since Zuck gave a whole bunch of governments the finger, the Uk government used its powers to collect relevant evidence. I would suggest that unless you are a) the CEO of a Unicorn, or b) Currently suing a Unicorn and c) that Unicorn is giving the finger to a government You need have no fear of doing business in the UK

chrisseaton 8y ago
> an invitation from a select committee to give evidence has the same sort of weight as a court summons to give evidence It doesn't! As you say yourself, one is a summons, the other is nothing more than an invitation to attend.
- timthorn 8y ago
  From: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmliaisn/697/697we36.htm https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmli...: "If a Select Committee wishes to require the attendance of a witness, an informal request is issued. If the witness is unwilling, a period of negotiation usually follows. If it is clear that the witness is not willing to attend, and the Committee wishes to insist, an order for attendance is made by the Committee, signed by the Chair, and then served upon the witness by the Serjeant at Arms or the Serjeant’s representative."
  - chrisseaton 8y ago
    People don’t think that ‘order’ actually has any effective legal power though. https://www.consoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Select-Committees-and-Coercive-Powers-Clarity-or-Confusion.pdf https://www.consoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Select-... https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.theweek.co.uk/93679/can-mps-force-people-to-testify%3famp https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.theweek.co.uk/93679/can-mps...
    - blibble 8y ago
      that may be the case, but snubbing reasonable requests from an institution with essentially unlimited power in its own domain is unlikely to end well for you if you want to remain operating there
- steve_gh 8y ago
  Strictly, you may be right - it is not a criminal offence to ignore an invitation form a select committee. I believe (but may be wrong), that the committee can request Parliament to consider the matter, and at that point the Sargent at Arms (who does have legal powers) can fetch you to appear at the bar (entrance to) the House of Commons chamber. Practically speaking, no-one in their right mind, based in the UK, ignores an invitation to attend a Select Committee hearing. Very bad form :-)