Facebook purged 800 accounts and pages that it said were spreading disinformation. Photo by Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Facebook facing new federal lawsuits over handling of user data

Nation

Facebook faces two new federal lawsuits for allegedly violating the trust of the millions of users whose personal data was shared with the data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica.

A California suit filed Monday seeks a court order to halt what it calls Facebook's unfair and deceptive business practices.

READ MORE: What you can do to protect your personal data on Facebook

A Delaware case filed Tuesday contends Facebook violated a 2011 consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission. It also names Cambridge Analytica and its business partners as defendants, alleging they committed fraud by using the social network to obtain personal data on at least 80 million Facebook users without their knowledge and consent.

Both are seeking class-action status. Lawyers in the Delaware case say they are aware of about a dozen similar suits. Facebook had no comment, but referred to previous statements that called Cambridge Analytica's actions a breach of trust.

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Facebook facing new federal lawsuits over handling of user data first appeared on the PBS News website.

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