Facebook’s $5 Billion Fine ‘Slap on the Wrist,’ GOP Senators Say

Facebook‘s $5 billion settlement to end a Federal Trade Commission privacy probe is drawing fire from a pair of Senate Republicans.

Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said the fine is too small a penalty for the social media giant. Their criticism signals that Facebook still faces bipartisan headwinds on Capitol Hill over its data privacy practices, despite the settlement.

“I think the fine is not big enough,” Hawley said, adding, “this is a slap on the wrist at best.”

The GOP-controlled agency approved the settlement on a party-line vote to end an investigation into the company’s ...