VOA慢速英语--Facebook Tells Users Whether Private Data Shared

 

Facebook says it will begin informing users as to whether their personal data may have been wrongly shared with a British research company.

Beginning Monday, Facebook said users who may have had private data shared with Cambridge Analytica will receive a message about it in their News Feed.

The company believes up to 87 million people might be have been affected¹. Facebook says most of them are in the United States. It says there were about a million users affected each in the Philippines, Indonesia and Britain.

Facebook says the information Cambridge Analytica got was first collected by a researcher at Cambridge University. The researcher gathered the data in 2013 through an app that asked users a series of questions for what was described as a personality test.

The users used Facebook to sign into the app. Facebook says information may have also been shared on people who did not sign into the app, if they were Facebook friends with users who did.

Last week, Facebook founder² Mark Zuckerberg admitted the company made mistakes in dealing³ with Cambridge Analytica. The company says it is continuing to investigate the incident. Zuckerberg apologized and said the social media service is already taking steps to prevent misuse⁴ of user data in the future.

Facebook has also created a link that shows all users what apps and websites they used Facebook to sign into. From the link, users can remove ones they no longer want connected to Facebook.

Cambridge Analytica uses a research method that involves “psychographs.” The method aims to use data it collects to predict personal behaviors.

Cambridge Analytica data was used during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The company worked for then-candidate Donald Trump⁵. A Trump campaign official has said the campaign did not use Cambridge Analytica for voter information.

Zuckerberg has been called to testify⁶ before several Congressional committees beginning on Tuesday. He is expected to speak about the Cambridge Analytica situation and discuss Facebook’s privacy⁷ policies.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

app – n. computer program that performs a special function?

personality – n. set of emotional qualities, ways of behaving, etc., that makes a person different from other people

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 misuse   

n.误用，滥用；vt.误用，滥用

参考例句：

• It disturbs me profoundly that you so misuse your talents.你如此滥用自己的才能，使我深感不安。
• He was sacked for computer misuse.他因滥用计算机而被解雇了。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 testify   

v.证明，证实，作证

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• I can testify to this man's veracity and good character.我可以作证，此人诚实可靠，品德良好。

7 privacy   

n.私人权利，个人自由，隐私权

参考例句：

• In such matters,privacy is impossible.在这类事情中，保密是不可能的。
• She wept in the privacy of her own room.她在自己房内暗暗落泪。