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Mark Zuckerberg testifying before a US Senate committee
Mark Zuckerberg is testifying before a US Senate committee as the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica data scandal continues. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Mark Zuckerberg is testifying before a US Senate committee as the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica data scandal continues. Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Five questions Mark Zuckerberg should be asked by Congress

This article is more than 6 years old

As embattled Facebook founder appears before Congress again, here is what should be put to him

1) You’re abusing your power as a global monopoly. Why shouldn’t we break you up?

Zuckerberg made the rookie error of leaving out his notes, which an AP reporter promptly snapped. One section said: “Break up FB? US tech companies key asset for America; break up strengthens Chinese companies.” Really? That’s the best you’ve got? The senators need to drive this one home hard.

2) You keep talking about Aleksandr Kogan, who harvested data for Cambridge Analytica. What about his business partner Joseph Chancellor, a Facebook employee?

You haven’t mentioned Chancellor. Why? He went to work for you before the story first broke in December 2015. Does his involvement not concern you? Who knew what and when?

Did senators questioning Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg understand the internet? – video

3) Why won’t you come to Britain, and why won’t you answer questions put to you by the UK parliament?

Please ask this, America. We’ve helped you get him before Congress. Now we need your help getting answers on what happened during the EU referendum. On what possible grounds can you justify refusing an official request to appear before MPs?(Also, why won’t you entertain interview requests from the Guardian and Observer?)

4) Why didn’t you suspend Cambridge Analytica from Facebook when you first found out it had misappropriated data in December 2015?

Last week you said it was because Cambridge Analytica didn’t use Facebook at the time, which is not true. On Tuesday you repeated it. Then after the break, you said you “mis-spoke”. So, answer the question: why didn’t you suspend the company? Why didn’t you inform users their data had been taken without their consent? Why did you – even after you knew what Cambridge Analytica had done with your data – embed your employees with the company during the Trump campaign?

5) Does Facebook track users around the web when they are not logged in? Does it track people between devices?

On Tuesday you said you didn’t know. Are you sure? Have you had a chance to catch up on your reading?

More on this story

More on this story

  • Mark Zuckerberg faces tough questions in two-day congressional testimony – as it happened

  • Act on data privacy or we'll regulate, UK minister tells Facebook

  • Christopher Wylie: Why I broke the Facebook data story – and what should happen now

  • Mark Zuckerberg vows to fight election meddling in marathon Senate grilling

  • Mark Zuckerberg in a booster seat? A tall tale, says Facebook

  • Zuckerberg got off lightly. Why are politicians so bad at asking questions?

  • Are you ready? Here is all the data Facebook and Google have on you

  • How to check whether Facebook shared your data with Cambridge Analytica

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