Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., called for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to come to Washington to explain a scandal surrounding the harvesting of data from the social media giant from the firm Cambridge Analytica.
“He is the face of this issue,” said Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Meet the Press Sunday. “He needs to come out. He created this industry and he needs to explain to the American public and policymakers.”
“I don’t think Facebook has been fully forthcoming” on the data harvesting, Warner said.
Zuckerberg issued a full-page apology in major newspapers on Sunday. He referred to a quiz app made by Cambridge Analytica in 2014 that harvested Facebook data for more than 50 million users. The firm then used the data to try and influence voters ahead of the 2016 election.
“This was a breach of trust, and I’m sorry we didn’t do more at the time,” Zuckerberg’s apology said. “Were now taking steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Warner added Zuckerberg needs to discuss with lawmakers about the other threats that could come on his platform.
“The next wave of technology will be able to have your image with words coming out of your mouth that may not be said, or your face put on somebody else’s body, in terms of next wave of technology,” Warner said on CBS’ “Face The Nation.”
“We have to get our arms around this. I think Mr. Zuckerberg needs to come and testify before Congress — not just put an advertisement in a newspaper. He said he would if he was the right guy. He is the right guy. He can’t send a staff.”
Warner isn’t the only lawmaker that wants Zuckerberg to come in and explain how the massive breach happened.
Leaders of the House Energy & Commerce Committee urged the CEO to appear before the panel.
