Facebook says data of 620,000 Canadians shared with Cambridge Analytica

Facebook says data of 620,000 Canadians shared with Cambridge Analytica
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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The social media giant estimates more than 620,000 Canadians had data shared with Cambridge Analytica without their consent. Photo courtesy CBC.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The social media giant estimates more than 620,000 Canadians had data shared with Cambridge Analytica without their consent. Photo courtesy CBC.

More than 620,000 Canadians likely had their data improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica, according to a statement from Facebook Wednesday.

The social media giant says 87 million of its users were affected overall, with 622,161 users’ data in Canada shared without authorization.

Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting company, is accused of using the information of 50 million Facebook users to help Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Facebook says nearly 82 per cent of those affected is believed to be in the United States.

Facebook announced it would make changes to restrict data access and to better protect users’ information.

Starting next week, Facebook will tell people if their information was shared with Cambridge Analytica.

With files from the Canadian Press and CBC.

Andy NealAndy Neal

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