MPs demand answer from Facebook boss over hack shock

MPs demand answer from Facebook boss over hack shock and have demanded that Mark Zuckerberg travels to the UK to face questions about his “terrible disrespect” for the data of citizens, following last week’s data breach at Facebook that resulted in 50 million user accounts being ­exposed to hackers.

They want answers from the Facebook boss after millions of users were left vulnerable to identity fraud in the biggest cyber attack on the social media giant since it was created in 2004.

Questions over the company’s “cavalier attitude” to data security are to be asked by the digital, culture, media and sport select committee.

On Friday, Facebook revealed that hackers had been able to access ­accounts due to a security flaw that had remained open for more than a year.

Damian Collins, who chairs the select committee, said: “Facebook’s latest data breach demonstrates more clearly than ever why Mark Zuckerberg should face public scrutiny about the practices and policies his company employs to keep British users’ data safe.”

Mr Zuckerberg was summoned by Parliament earlier this year to be questioned over its investigation into fake news on Facebook and has three times refused to attend the select committee.

But he has, however, agreed to be scrutinised by US legislators in Washington and EU politicians in Brussels earlier this year. Julian Knight, a committee member, said: “It would be helpful to hear from Mr Zuckerberg, but I won’t be holding my breath.”

Facebook has more than 2.2 billion monthly users around the world and 40 million in the UK. Facebook ­declined to comment.