Facebook: Fess Up and Tell Us Who Your Outside Lawyers and Lobbyists Are


There’s an irony that for a company which thinks privacy is passé, they won’t reveal to the press whether they have engaged the services of former FTC Chair Tim Muris.  That’s what we have heard from a number of reporters over the last several days.   It’s no coincidence, in our opinion, that Facebook has allegedly engaged Mr. Muris to represent them at the FTC while he is helping lead the campaign against congressional proposals to strengthen that consumer protection agency.  Facebook’s new data collection system, including its “Like” application, doesn’t face the kind of regulatory scrutiny it requires–given the FTC’s current political fight and regulatory weakness. Bravo to Sen. Schumer and the other Senators who are asking for action.

Author: jeff

Jeff Chester is executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy. A former journalist and filmmaker, Jeff's book on U.S. electronic media politics, entitled "Digital Destiny: New Media and the Future of Democracy" was published by The New Press in January 2007. He is now working on a new book about interactive advertising and the public interest.