Irish Regulator Probes 'Old' Facebook Data Dump (bbc.com) 13
A data leak involving personal details of hundreds of millions of Facebook users is being reviewed by Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC). The BBC reports: The database is believed to contain a mix of Facebook profile names, phone numbers, locations and other facts about more than 530 million people. Facebook says the data is "old," from a previously-reported leak in 2019. But the Irish DPC said it will work with Facebook, to make sure that is the case.
Ireland's regulator is critical to such investigations, as Facebook's European headquarters is in Dublin, making it an important regulator for the EU. The most recent data dump appears to contain the entire compromised database from the previous leak, which Facebook said it found and fixed more than a year and a half ago. But the dataset has now been published for free in a hacking forum, making it much more widely available. It covers 533 million people in 106 countries, according to researchers who have viewed the data. That includes 11 million Facebook users in the UK and more than 30 million Americans. The DPC's deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said the recent data dump "appears to be" from the previous leak -- and that the data-scraping behind it had happened before the EU's GDPR privacy legislation was in effect.
"However, following this weekend's media reporting we are examining the matter to establish whether the dataset referred to is indeed the same as that reported in 2019," he added.
Ireland's regulator is critical to such investigations, as Facebook's European headquarters is in Dublin, making it an important regulator for the EU. The most recent data dump appears to contain the entire compromised database from the previous leak, which Facebook said it found and fixed more than a year and a half ago. But the dataset has now been published for free in a hacking forum, making it much more widely available. It covers 533 million people in 106 countries, according to researchers who have viewed the data. That includes 11 million Facebook users in the UK and more than 30 million Americans. The DPC's deputy commissioner Graham Doyle said the recent data dump "appears to be" from the previous leak -- and that the data-scraping behind it had happened before the EU's GDPR privacy legislation was in effect.
"However, following this weekend's media reporting we are examining the matter to establish whether the dataset referred to is indeed the same as that reported in 2019," he added.
Totally Beholden Regulator ... (Score:3)
All the major US corporations run their European operations through Ireland. The Irish reciprocate by kissing their feet when it comes to regulation or ... taxes.
Re: (Score:2)
They have the EU on the other side though, and the EU does monitor member states for compliance which includes regulators being willing to enforce the rules.
old data (Score:3)
What the data contains is (Score:4, Informative)
A phone number (including country code), what appears to be a serial number, first name, last name, sex, place of residence, place of birth, relationship status, place of employment, what I believe is most likely the last logon time, a field that appears to be blank on every record I've looked at, and finally a birth date.
As far as I can see, only records with an associated phone number made it into the leaked data set.
Re: (Score:2)
I wonder if anyone on that list had previously deleted their account? If so, that could rather complicate any subsequent legal proceedings.
This is all the data (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
The is a scam. Where can I report abuse?
Re: (Score:2)
Leak happened before EU's GDPR privacy legislation (Score:1)
What difference would it make, aren't the data scrapers just going to ignore the legislation.
Data posted on Facebook publicly available (Score:1)
Really? (Score:2)
"Facebook says the data is "old," from a previously-reported leak in 2019. "
Thank god, after 18 months everybody got a new name and phone-number.