Mark Zuckerberg: Difference between revisions

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==Professional background==

Zuckerberg is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other digital services. He launched "TheFacebook" on February 4, 2004, while he was studying psychology and computer science at Harvard University. Facebook, originating as a campus directory to connect Harvard students, expanded rapidly reaching 1 million users within a year becoming the world’s largest social network by 2009.

Zuckerberg is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other digital services. He launched "TheFacebook" on February 4, 2004, while he was studying psychology and computer science at Harvard University. Facebook, originating as a campus directory to connect Harvard students, expanded rapidly reaching one million users within a year becoming the world’s largest social network by 2009.

==Stance on consumer rights==

Zuckerberg’s stance on consumer rights is marked by a pattern of reactive concessions under legal pressure rather than proactive protection. In 2002, he hacked Harvard's security system and accessed students I.D. photos to populate FaceMash, which was shut down 3 days later by the Universty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellis |first=Mary |title=The History of Facebook and How It Was Invented |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/who-invented-facebook-1991791 |website=ThoughtCo.}}</ref> Publicly advocating for limited regulatory reforms, his actions regarding data privacy, antitrust, and civil rights prioritize Meta’s business model over consumer welfare. While he has consistently emphasized user control over privacy settings, his actions and business model reveal a pattern of undermining true data autonomy.

Zuckerberg’s stance on consumer rights is marked by a pattern of reactive concessions under legal pressure rather than proactive protection. In 2002, he hacked Harvard's security system and accessed students I.D. photos to populate a website that would allow users to rate students by looks, FaceMash, which was shut down three days later by the Universty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellis |first=Mary |title=The History of Facebook and How It Was Invented |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/who-invented-facebook-1991791 |website=ThoughtCo.}}</ref> Publicly advocating for limited regulatory reforms, his actions regarding data privacy, antitrust, and civil rights prioritize Meta’s business model over consumer welfare. While he has consistently emphasized user control over privacy settings, his actions and business model reveal a pattern of undermining true data autonomy.

===Public statements supporting consumer control===

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*Revenue relies on monetizing user data.

**"Zuckerberg’s Law": He predicted users would share twice as much data yearly, pushing openness over privacy.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />

**Data Hoarding: Despite General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR) style pledges, Facebook resists limits on data collection. Such as opposing regulations that would curb microtargeting.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Tom |date=2019-04-03 |title=Mark Zuckerberg’s call for internet rules only goes part way |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/mark-zuckerbergs-call-for-internet-rules-only-goes-part-way/ |website=The Brookings Institution}}</ref>

**Data Hoarding: Despite [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR) style pledges, Facebook resists limits on data collection. Such as opposing regulations that would curb microtargeting.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Tom |date=2019-04-03 |title=Mark Zuckerberg’s call for internet rules only goes part way |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/mark-zuckerbergs-call-for-internet-rules-only-goes-part-way/ |website=The Brookings Institution}}</ref>

==Major consumer protection incidents==

===Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal===

~~Former~~ Cambridge Analytica employee, Christopher Wylie, leaked internal documents to journalists demonstrating uninformed consent of personal data collection of up to 87 million Facebook profiles for political advertising purposes through Facebook's Open Graph Platform and Facebook Application "This is Your Digital Life" developed by data scientist Aleksandr Kogan at Global Science Research.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/10/facebook-cambridge-analytica-a-timeline-of-the-data-hijacking-scandal.html "Facebook-Cambridge Analytica: A timeline of the data hijacking scandal"] - cnbc.com - accessed 2025-02-03</ref>

The Cambridge Analytica scandal came to light when a former employee, Christopher Wylie, leaked internal documents to journalists demonstrating uninformed consent of personal data collection of up to 87 million Facebook profiles for political advertising purposes through Facebook's Open Graph Platform and Facebook Application "This is Your Digital Life" developed by data scientist Aleksandr Kogan at Global Science Research.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/10/facebook-cambridge-analytica-a-timeline-of-the-data-hijacking-scandal.html "Facebook-Cambridge Analytica: A timeline of the data hijacking scandal"] - cnbc.com - accessed 2025-02-03</ref> The appropriated personal data was used in the US 2016 Presidency for Ted Cruz's and Donald Trump's campaigns.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/cambridge-analytica-facebook-scandal-trump-cruz-operatives-2018-3 "There's an open secret about Cambridge Analytica in the political world: It doesn't have the 'secret sauce' it claims"] - businessinsider.com - accessed 2025-02-03 </ref>

The appropriated ~~Personal Data~~ was used in the US 2016 Presidency for Ted Cruz's and Donald Trump's campaigns.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/cambridge-analytica-facebook-scandal-trump-cruz-operatives-2018-3 "There's an open secret about Cambridge Analytica in the political world: It doesn't have the 'secret sauce' it claims"] - businessinsider.com - accessed 2025-02-03 </ref>

~~'''Deceptive Marketing''': Incomplete.~~

~~<ref>Ref</ref>.<br>~~

~~'''Data Collection''': Incomplete.~~

~~<ref>Ref</ref>.<br~~>

'''Deceptive Marketing'''

In 2011, the FTC found Facebook guilty of deceptive practices, such as sharing data with third-party apps without user consent and misrepresenting privacy controls. Despite a 20 year consent order, Facebook continued to face allegations of similar violations, including post-2018 complaints about lax data policies.

A photo of Zuckerberg revealed in 2016 that he keeps his own laptop camera covered with tape.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-22 |title=Mark Zuckerberg Puts Tape Over His Webcam |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/mark-zuckerberg-puts-tape-webcam/story?id=40040340 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=abc News}}</ref>

==Regulatory response==

*Fines: Facebook paid $5 billion to the FTC for privacy violations and faced lawsuits for deceptive practices.<ref name=":2" />

*Fines: Facebook paid five billion dollars to the FTC for privacy violations and faced lawsuits for deceptive practices.<ref name=":2" />

*Whistleblower Allegations: Internal documents show Zuckerberg prioritized engagement over safety, undermining claims of user control.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

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As of June 2025, Mark Zuckerberg remains the '''CEO and Chairman of Meta Platforms, Inc.''' (formerly Facebook). He continues to lead the company's focus on the '''metaverse''', artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.

===Recent developments:===

===Recent developments===

*'''Meta's AI and Metaverse Push:''' Meta is heavily investing in AI, including large language models (like LLaMA) and AI-driven products across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 ==Professional background==
-Zuckerberg is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other digital services. He launched "TheFacebook" on February 4, 2004, while he was studying psychology and computer science at Harvard University. Facebook, originating as a campus directory to connect Harvard students, expanded rapidly reaching 1 million users within a year becoming the world’s largest social network by 2009.
+Zuckerberg is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other digital services. He launched "TheFacebook" on February 4, 2004, while he was studying psychology and computer science at Harvard University. Facebook, originating as a campus directory to connect Harvard students, expanded rapidly reaching one million users within a year becoming the world’s largest social network by 2009.
 ==Stance on consumer rights==
-Zuckerberg’s stance on consumer rights is marked by a pattern of reactive concessions under legal pressure rather than proactive protection. In 2002, he hacked Harvard's security system and accessed students I.D. photos to populate FaceMash, which was shut down 3 days later by the Universty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellis |first=Mary |title=The History of Facebook and How It Was Invented |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/who-invented-facebook-1991791 |website=ThoughtCo.}}</ref> Publicly advocating for limited regulatory reforms, his actions regarding data privacy, antitrust, and civil rights prioritize Meta’s business model over consumer welfare. While he has consistently emphasized user control over privacy settings, his actions and business model reveal a pattern of undermining true data autonomy.
+Zuckerberg’s stance on consumer rights is marked by a pattern of reactive concessions under legal pressure rather than proactive protection. In 2002, he hacked Harvard's security system and accessed students I.D. photos to populate a website that would allow users to rate students by looks, FaceMash, which was shut down three days later by the Universty.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellis |first=Mary |title=The History of Facebook and How It Was Invented |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/who-invented-facebook-1991791 |website=ThoughtCo.}}</ref> Publicly advocating for limited regulatory reforms, his actions regarding data privacy, antitrust, and civil rights prioritize Meta’s business model over consumer welfare. While he has consistently emphasized user control over privacy settings, his actions and business model reveal a pattern of undermining true data autonomy.
 ===Public statements supporting consumer control===
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 *Revenue relies on monetizing user data.
 **"Zuckerberg’s Law": He predicted users would share twice as much data yearly, pushing openness over privacy.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />
-**Data Hoarding: Despite General Data Protection Regulation(GDPR) style pledges, Facebook resists limits on data collection. Such as opposing regulations that would curb microtargeting.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Tom |date=2019-04-03 |title=Mark Zuckerberg’s call for internet rules only goes part way |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/mark-zuckerbergs-call-for-internet-rules-only-goes-part-way/ |website=The Brookings Institution}}</ref>
+**Data Hoarding: Despite [[General Data Protection Regulation]] (GDPR) style pledges, Facebook resists limits on data collection. Such as opposing regulations that would curb microtargeting.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Tom |date=2019-04-03 |title=Mark Zuckerberg’s call for internet rules only goes part way |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/mark-zuckerbergs-call-for-internet-rules-only-goes-part-way/ |website=The Brookings Institution}}</ref>
 ==Major consumer protection incidents==
 ===Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal===
-Former Cambridge Analytica employee, Christopher Wylie, leaked internal documents to journalists demonstrating uninformed consent of personal data collection of up to 87 million Facebook profiles for political advertising purposes through Facebook's Open Graph Platform and Facebook Application "This is Your Digital Life" developed by data scientist Aleksandr Kogan at Global Science Research.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/10/facebook-cambridge-analytica-a-timeline-of-the-data-hijacking-scandal.html "Facebook-Cambridge Analytica: A timeline of the data hijacking scandal"] - cnbc.com - accessed 2025-02-03</ref>
+The Cambridge Analytica scandal came to light when a former employee, Christopher Wylie, leaked internal documents to journalists demonstrating uninformed consent of personal data collection of up to 87 million Facebook profiles for political advertising purposes through Facebook's Open Graph Platform and Facebook Application "This is Your Digital Life" developed by data scientist Aleksandr Kogan at Global Science Research.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/10/facebook-cambridge-analytica-a-timeline-of-the-data-hijacking-scandal.html "Facebook-Cambridge Analytica: A timeline of the data hijacking scandal"] - cnbc.com - accessed 2025-02-03</ref> The appropriated personal data was used in the US 2016 Presidency for Ted Cruz's and Donald Trump's campaigns.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/cambridge-analytica-facebook-scandal-trump-cruz-operatives-2018-3 "There's an open secret about Cambridge Analytica in the political world: It doesn't have the 'secret sauce' it claims"] - businessinsider.com - accessed 2025-02-03 </ref>
-The appropriated Personal Data was used in the US 2016 Presidency for Ted Cruz's and Donald Trump's campaigns.<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/cambridge-analytica-facebook-scandal-trump-cruz-operatives-2018-3 "There's an open secret about Cambridge Analytica in the political world: It doesn't have the 'secret sauce' it claims"] - businessinsider.com - accessed 2025-02-03 </ref>
-'''Deceptive Marketing''': Incomplete.
-<ref>Ref</ref>.<br>
-'''Data Collection''': Incomplete.
-<ref>Ref</ref>.<br>
+'''Deceptive Marketing'''
+In 2011, the FTC found Facebook guilty of deceptive practices, such as sharing data with third-party apps without user consent and misrepresenting privacy controls. Despite a 20 year consent order, Facebook continued to face allegations of similar violations, including post-2018 complaints about lax data policies.
 A photo of Zuckerberg revealed in 2016 that he keeps his own laptop camera covered with tape.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-22 |title=Mark Zuckerberg Puts Tape Over His Webcam |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/mark-zuckerberg-puts-tape-webcam/story?id=40040340 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=abc News}}</ref>
 ==Regulatory response==
-*Fines: Facebook paid $5 billion to the FTC for privacy violations  and faced lawsuits for deceptive practices.<ref name=":2" />
+*Fines: Facebook paid five billion dollars to the FTC for privacy violations and faced lawsuits for deceptive practices.<ref name=":2" />
 *Whistleblower Allegations: Internal documents show Zuckerberg prioritized engagement over safety, undermining claims of user control.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />
@@ Line 48: / Line 43: @@
 As of June 2025, Mark Zuckerberg remains the '''CEO and Chairman of Meta Platforms, Inc.''' (formerly Facebook). He continues to lead the company's focus on the '''metaverse''', artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
-===Recent developments:===
+===Recent developments===
 *'''Meta's AI and Metaverse Push:''' Meta is heavily investing in AI, including large language models (like LLaMA) and AI-driven products across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.