Facebook has launched a new data abuse bounty program in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica saga. The aim of the program is to help to uncover those who steal and misuse Facebook user data; which will hopefully prevent another future scandal.
Facebook will be offering up to US$40,000 (~RM154,000) to those who report data abuse cases. According to Alex Stamos, Chief Security Officer at Facebook, the bounty program would help the company find “cases of data abuse not tied to security vulnerability” and hopes that the program will also “help surface more cases like Cambridge Analytica so we can know about it first and take action.”
In order to participate in the bug bounty program, there are (naturally) a few criteria to adhere to. Firstly, the discovered security bug must have been found on Facebook or one of its presently owned acquisitions.
Examples include Atlas, WhatsApp, Instagram, Onavo, and other open-source projects by the parent company. Reports will need to be submitted via Facebook’s “Report a security vulnerability'” form.
To provide context; Facebook recently found itself in the middle of a massive scandal with the UK-based political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, when the latter was accused of obtaining the personal details of 87 million Facebook users.
What followed was evidence of the British firm using the collected information to guide public opinion. It’s said that the information was used during the US General Election and the Brexit vote from 2016.
(Source: CNet, Hot Hardware)
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