Facebook Cambridge Analytica scandal latest: Mark Zuckerberg issues grovelling apology ahead of US hearing

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves Monday's meeting on Capitol Hill
AP

Mark Zuckerberg has issued a grovelling apology to US Congress over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, admitting the social media network should have done more to prevent data being misused.

The Facebook chief executive now faces a grilling from politicians over two days of hearings.

It comes after information about voters wrongly ended up in the hands of the data firm.

Mr Zuckerberg said in a written statement: "We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake.

"It was my mistake, and I am sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I am responsible for what happens here."

Mr Zuckerberg leaves after a meeting with Senator Bill Nelson
Getty Images

He also attended a meeting on Capitol Hill with top Democrat Senator Bill Nelson ahead of his scheduled appearance before two Congressional committees on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Top of the agenda in the hearings will be Facebook's admission that the personal information of up to 87 million users, mostly in the US, may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica.

But lawmakers are also expected to press him on a range of issues, including the 2016 US election.

He added in his testimony: "It’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm..."

"That goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech, as well as developers and data privacy."

On Monday, Facebook began notifying the 87 million people whose personal information may have been shared with Cambridge Analytica as part of the scandal.

Those who might have had their data shared with the British firm will receive a detailed message at the top of their news feed, the social network said.

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