Facebook says it will stop spending money to fight the proposed California ballot initiative aims to give consumers more control over their data.
The measure, known as the law On “California privacy of consumers,” companies will have to disclose on request what types of personal information they collect about the person and if they sold it. It will also allow customers to opt out from having their data sold.
The company made a statement Wednesday, chief Executive mark Zuckerberg came under questioning from Congress about the processing of user data.
Pressure mounted on Facebook to explain its privacy settings after it became clear that a Republican-linked firm has conducted large-scale data collection.
Facebook donated $200,000 to the Committee opposing the initiative in California is part of the efforts of the giant$ 1 million to keep him on the ballot Nov.
Facebook said that it has withdrawn its support “to focus our efforts on the support of the reasonable measures of privacy in California.”
The initiators of the vote, applauded the move.
“We are very pleased,” said Mary Ross, President of Californians for privacy of consumers.
The chamber of Commerce of California and other groups are fighting to keep the measure with a vote through the “Committee to protect California jobs.” Google, at&T, Verizon and comcast also contributed $200,000 each this work in February.
The representative of the Committee Steve Maviglio said the measure would hurt California’s economy.
“It is unworkable and requires Internet to California to work in another way- to limit our choices, harm our business and cut our connection with the world economy,” he said.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
