Claiming that Facebook has a data problem may seem like a cliché, given the amount of data leaks and misuse we’ve learned over the years. But not, this time it’s not the same and it’s much worse. And so, on previous occasions, the explanation we received from Meta before Facebook was that the attackers discovered a specific problem, something quite different from what was planned on that occasion.

And it is in a leaked document to which the motherboard had access that the company’s engineering team confirms that Facebook has no control over how it uses your data and, as a result, doesn’t know who it can reach.. And I repeat, because this is a fundamental point, this revelation has its origins in a confidential report created by engineers from the company itself, ie those who should know best how it works and therefore can talk to a higher level of ownership.

In a document that you can read here, those responsible for it reflect the regulatory movements that are taking place around the world, and categorically state that at the time of writing, Facebook would absolutely not be able to comply with such rules. And this is because, given the volume and the different levels of classification of the data that the social network handles, we are talking about a particularly complex scenario, which at least until then the company has not been able to solve.

At one point in the document, a metaphor is proposed that seems particularly clear to me, namely that in the current situation, the attempt to identify the path followed by the data that came from Facebook is similar to that when trying to retrieve the contents of a previously emptied ink container into a lake. But we also find a much more literal description:

«We do not have a sufficient level of control and explanation about how our systems use the data and therefore cannot make certain policy changes or external commitments, such as “we will not use the X data for Y purposes”. And yet this is exactly what regulators expect us to do, which increases our risk of error.“.

In particular, there is one point that I think is worth emphasizing, and that is how we see Facebook’s main concern is its ability to adapt to new regulatory frameworks. And this concern is understandable, of course, because if they don’t conform to the same Meta in general and Facebook in particular, they may face millions in sanctions and possibly a ban on offering their services in those jurisdictions.

What seems paradigmatic to me, while not surprising at the moment, is that his concern is related to the fine he could face for spilling ink, but not because of the other consequences of that situation. And that’s because in recent years, we’ve seen Facebook fill their mouths with respect and privacy, but they still don’t have the time or interest to end the situation and reformulate data management.

And since a truffle-free cake is just a cake, we can read in the report that the engineers, after analyzing the situation and reaching such dire conclusions, have proposed an alternative system to solve this problem, that is, a solution. And his proposal passed implement it upon arrival in January 2022, which suggests that it could be done within a reasonable time. And yet, as we can read, it is still not functional. So apart from the technical reason, we only have one other explanation left and you know exactly what it is about.