Missouri Attorney General Subpoenas Facebook on Data Sharing, Tracking

Missouri subpoenaed Facebook in an investigation of the company’s business practices for sharing and tracking user data, Attorney General Josh Hawley (R) announced Monday (see 1803280045). Hawley was one of 37 state AGs who wrote to Facebook last week asking for details about the Cambridge Analytica controversy. “There is no excuse for this irresponsible handling of user data,” Hawley said. “Missourians need to know that they can trust the companies and platforms that have access to as much user information as Facebook does.” A coalition of privacy, civil liberties and human rights organizations launched a campaign Monday saying tech companies should reform data collection and sharing practices. The American Civil Liberties Union, Demand Progress and Fight for the Future were among those urging platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to limit data collection, give users more data control, offer encryption protection and support policy reforms to limit government access to user data, among other reforms. At Facebook, "we look forward to responding to Attorney General Hawley’s questions when we receive the details of his request," said Will Castleberry, vice president-state and local public policy, in a statement.