Facebook looks to advance data privacy conversation

Tech companies are assessing their roles in protecting their users as officials in Washington debate whether the government should take a firmer hand in safeguarding Americans’ privacy. To that end, Facebook is offering responses from tech industry analysts and former government officials on “how best to spur innovation while protecting privacy.” The company sought insights on how to balance privacy and data portability — the ability to transfer personal data among different apps and services. Facebook recently announced a new collaborative effort with Google, Microsoft, and Twitter to develop recommendations and guidelines on that front. Multiple federal agencies are probing Facebook over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. And the appetite for answers from the company on its privacy practices remains high on Capitol Hill, with Facebook and other tech companies on the hook to appear for another high-profile congressional hearing in September. Meanwhile, the White House and Commerce Department continue to iron out principles for potential national privacy standards. Such factors have put pressure on Facebook to demonstrate it is taking tangible steps to avoid another data breach and show it can internally evaluate and address weaknesses in its privacy protocols.