It’s time to delete Facebook, says WhatsApp owner

As Facebook remains in the eye of a massive storm for its involvement in the alleged misuse of its users’ data, the company seems to remain under hot waters for a little longer after WhatsApp co-owner Brian Acton has turned his back against the company.

Several movements over the internet are taking rounds, encouraging Facebook users to remove their accounts in the wake of British data firm Cambridge Analytica gaining access to private information of about 50 million Facebook users without their consent.

Action took to Twitter, urging his followers to delete their Facebook profiles by supporting the #deletefacebook hashtag.

WhatsApp ordered to stop sharing user data with Facebook or face penalty

It is time. #deletefacebook

— Brian Acton (@brianacton) March 20, 2018

According to reports published by The New York Times, the UK-based firm worked with a researcher at Cambridge University in 2014 to develop a personality survey. Since the users logged in through their Facebook accounts, the developed application gained access to users’ personal information.

The firm was later hired by the then Presidential candidate Donald Trump to help him in his presidential elections in 2016. However, BBC has reported that the researcher was unaware that the accessed data would be used to benefit Trump’s campaign.

The social media giant is under siege from users, lawmakers, shareholders and even its own employees since the news surfaced about data breach.

Since the backlash, the company has not only suffered legally but financially as well. Facebook’s shares are falling resulting to wipe out of $50 billion from its market value, BBC reports.

The instant messaging giant WhatsApp was sold to Facebook for $19 Billion in 2014.