FTC sues Cambridge Analytica, settles with firm's former CEO and app developer
The commission says the data firm engaged in "deceptive acts and practices" to obtain Facebook users' info.
Cambridge Analytica is now a target of the Federal Trade Commission.
Following its announcement of a $5 billion fine for Facebook Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against the company at the center of privacy scandal, Cambridge Analytica. The complaint says that the data firm was responsible for "deceptive acts and practices to harvest personal information from Facebook users."
The FTC also settled with the app develop Aleksandr Kogan, who worked for the firm, and former Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix. The two agreed to follow FTC orders and destroy all personal information acquired.
Cambridge Analytica shut down in May 2018 following the Facebook privacy scandal.
On Wednesday, the FTC announced that Facebook will pay a $5 billion fine for how it handles its users' privacy, including in violation of a 2012 order from the commission. At the same time, Facebook settled with the Securities and Exchange Commission for $100 million after a probe found the social media company didn't give investors warnings of third parties violating Facebook policies.
Kogan and Nix couldn't immediately be reached for comment
Originally published on July 24 at 6:08 a.m. PT.
Update, 6:37 a.m. PT: Adds background details.
