Facebook could face Aussie class action

Social media empire Facebook could face a class action from Australia, according to a litigation funding provider.

Facebook

A litigation company has floated the possibility of an Australian class action against Facebook. (AAP)

Facebook could face a class action over an alleged breach of Australian privacy laws in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The Australian Information Commission in April confirmed it was investigating the social media empire after revelations more than 300,000 people could have had their personal data exposed to Cambridge Analytica.

Litigation funding provider IMF Bentham on Tuesday said it was funding a separate representative complaint to the Australian privacy watchdog.

The company - which is listed on the Australian stock exchange - floated the possibility of a class action depending on the commission's future findings.

"IMF will determine at a later stage if it will fund any class action against the respondents arising from the alleged breaches of the Australian privacy principles," the company said in a statement.

It said people who received a message from Facebook stating their information had been shared with Cambridge Analytica were eligible to participate in the proposed class action.

They needed to have a personal account used in Australia between 2010 and 2015, IMF Bentham said.

Facebook has been contacted for comment.


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Source: AAP


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