# Understanding How Online Forms May Compromise Your Data
Written on
Chapter 2: The Implications of Data Mismanagement
Section 2.1: Facebook's Troubling History
Facebook's history provides a clear illustration of why these data collection practices should raise alarms. The Cambridge Analytica scandal, which began in 2013, involved a quiz app that collected personal data from Facebook users to create profiles on approximately 87 million individuals. This data was then exploited for political campaigns in both the U.S. and U.K. Consequently, Facebook faced a $5 billion fine for its role in this data mishandling, while Cambridge Analytica shut down in its aftermath.
Section 2.2: Recent Developments and Concerns
Recently, a leaked internal document from Facebook’s engineers shed light on the company's data privacy challenges. In this document, the engineers acknowledged, “We lack sufficient control and transparency over how our systems utilize data, making it difficult to implement policy changes or commitments regarding data usage.” They also indicated that complying with proposed data privacy legislation could take years.
For further insights, you can access the 15-page Facebook document at documentcloud.org/documents/21716382-facebook-data-lineage-internal-document.
Final Thoughts: Rethinking Data Entry Online
The findings from various studies clearly indicate that Meta is not the only organization involved in the collection of personal data from incomplete online forms. However, Facebook’s past issues and the admissions from its engineers serve as prime examples of why you should carefully consider entering personal information into online forms unless absolutely necessary. At the very least, you risk being targeted with unwanted advertisements. Depending on the nature of the data collected and how it is managed, the repercussions could be even more severe.