Zuckerberg's testimony before Congress: 5 questions Facebook Chief may face

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be testifying before US lawmakers on Tuesday over data breach of user information. Zuckerberg is scheduled to appear before a joint hearing of the US Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees on Tuesday and the US House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday.

In his testimony before the Congress, Zuckerberg will attempt to blunt any possible regulatory fallout from the privacy scandal engulfing his social network. 

Besides everything, one thing that is certain is that Zuckerberg will need a considerable bracing-up for a gruelling attack from the Congressmen.

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As we have our eyes set on the imminent event, here's a look at some of the probable questions Zuckerberg could be asked by the lawmakers. 

1. Should Facebook be trusted anymore?

This could be one of the most significant queries directed at the Facebook CEO. The social media giant recently surfaced as an unsafe social media platform by compromising and putting to risk the safety of personal information of millions of its users.

2. Share the extent to which user data has been compromised

The expanse of the data breach is unimaginable. According to reports, around 87 million accounts were hit with very little details on data misuse available in the public domain. Zuckerberg, most probably, would be asked to give out extensive report on the same. 

There is also little clarity on who all have access to the leaked data. 

3. What took so long for the company to act?

Reports of data breach first emerged in the year 2015, the Zuckerberg-led company took years to act on the same. Facebook CEO may have to elaborate on the same clarifying why did his company take so long to take stock of the situation. 

It’s not the first time when the social media giant came under fire for failing to maintain user privacy.  The recent controversy around the breach of user data has caused unimaginable damage to its users’ privacy and company's reputation.  

Zuckerberg might have to share his company's overhauled policy directed toward ensuring user data privacy.

5. Why did Facebook not notify users more aggressively?

US lawmakers may demand Zuckerberg to clarify why exactly were the users not notified when their personal information was shared with third-party applications. The Congressmen may call for stringent, stricter regulations on Facebook asking Zuckerberg why should tougher regulations not be imposed on the company. 

Facebook recently announced that it will notify the 87 million people whose data it estimates could have been accessed by Cambridge Analytica. According to reports, Facebook could end up facing more regulations than ever before.

Zuckerberg, in his testimony, is expected to recognize a need to take responsibility and acknowledge an initial failure to understand how many people were affected.

The 33-year-old internet mogul will appear at 2:15 pm (1815 GMT) before a joint hearing of the US Senate's Commerce and Judiciary committees on Tuesday.

Facebook came under fire in recent weeks after it said that the personal information of up to 87 million users, mostly in the United States, may have been improperly shared with political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.