Facebook has recruited its new legal officer, Jennifer Newstead, to the US Department of Foreign Affairs. For two years, the group is at the heart of international controversies around the sorting of content published on its platform and the protection of personal data of its users.
To help him deal with many regulatory concerns, Facebook has recruit a new legal manager. This is Jennifer Newstead, an ex of the US Department of Foreign Affairs. A lawyer by training, she replaces Colin Stretch, who announced his departure last year, says the group. These controversies have earned him investigations and prosecutions in several countries.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed in a statement the departure of Jennifer Newstead, thanking her for her work with the ministry since the end of 2017, when she was the first woman to hold the position of "Legal". Adviser ". Jennifer Newstead is also known for writing the Patriot Act during her time in the Bush administration, as noted by The Verge. Voted at the end of 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, the Patriot Act is an anti-terrorism law that has allowed many citizen surveillance measures.
Investigations into Facebook's practices
Facebook, which over the last two years has faced several senior executive departures, also named John Pinette Communications Manager on Monday, with the title of "Vice President of Global Communications". He replaces Caryn Marooney who announced his departure at the beginning of the year. Former Microsoft and Google, John Pinette was also in charge of communications Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft.
Facebook is notably the subject of investigations in the United States in the wake of the scandal leaked data to the British firm Cambridge Analytica revealed last year. The trade regulator, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the stock policeman, the SEC, as well as the Justice Ministry are investigating Facebook's practices, which are also the subject of complaints from US states or the US. shareholders.
In particular, the FTC seeks to find out if Facebook has not broken a 2011 friendly agreement that the social network is committed to the respect of personal data and transparency in their use. According to the US press, the FTC and the California group are negotiating a fine that could amount to some $ 2 billion.
