Meta Platforms (Facebook Brazil)

What happened

Brazil's National Consumer Secretariat (SENACON) fined Meta Platforms (Facebook) R$6.6 million (approximately $1.3 million USD) in connection with the Cambridge Analytica scandal and its impact on Brazilian users. The investigation found that approximately 443,000 Brazilian Facebook users had their personal data improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica through the 'thisisyourdigitallife' quiz app. The data was used for political profiling without users' knowledge or consent. SENACON determined that Facebook failed to adequately protect Brazilian consumers' personal data and did not provide sufficient transparency about third-party access to user information. This was one of the largest privacy-related fines in Brazilian history at the time of issuance.

Articles violated

Lessons learned

The Cambridge Analytica scandal continues to generate enforcement actions globally years after the initial revelations. Brazilian consumer protection agencies can pursue privacy violations under both LGPD and consumer protection law. Third-party app permissions that access friends' data create exponential privacy risks. Companies operating in Brazil must comply with both LGPD and the Consumer Defense Code. Transparent communication about data sharing practices is essential to avoid enforcement in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.