FTC Briefs Senators on Facebook Privacy Deal Called ‘Pinprick’

The Federal Trade Commission privately briefed senators Monday on its pending privacy settlement with Facebook Inc. over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, according to three lawmakers.

Democrat Richard Blumenthal said he was “very, very fearful that it will be just a pinprick penalty compared to the total assets and profits of the company.” Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Marsha Blackburn declined to discuss details of their meetings.

Blumenthal said that members of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees were briefed by the FTC. He cautioned that the details given to lawmakers might not be reflected in the final deal, which also ...