Consumer Groups Ask FTC to Slap Facebook With ‘Significant Fine’ by Sept. 1

The FTC should conclude its investigation of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica privacy breach (see 1805020042) and issue a “significant fine” before Sept. 1, 14 groups wrote the agency Thursday. The Electronic Privacy Information Center, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Watchdog and Public Citizen were among them. Lack of enforcement “would imperil both European and American consumers and undermine the digital economy,” the groups said, citing implications for the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (see 1808090015). It’s been four months since the agency opened its Facebook probe, they noted. An FTC spokesperson said the agency received the letter.