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Facebook privacy: MEPs to press Zuckerberg

Getty Images Mark ZuckerbergGetty Images
Mr Zuckerberg's visit to Brussels will be less public than his testimony to Congress last month

Facebook has confirmed its chief executive will meet leading members of the European Parliament to discuss privacy concerns in Brussels.

The date of the meeting with Mark Zuckerberg has yet to be fixed but the president of the European Parliament said he hoped it would be next week.

The talks will be held behind closed doors at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents attended by leaders of the various political groups.

A follow-up public hearing is planned.

But this later event, which is likely to be in June, will be attended by different Facebook executives.

The social network has been embroiled in a data privacy scandal since it emerged that it had not checked that millions of users' personal details had been deleted after being shared with Cambridge Analytica.

The London-based political consultancy announced it would shut earlier this month.

Paris trip

The French president is also set to meet Mr Zuckerberg in Paris on 23 May.

Getty Images Zuckerberg and SarkozyGetty Images
Mr Zuckerberg previously visited Paris in 2011 when he met President Nicolas Sarkozy

Emmanuel Macron's office said the two men would have "frank" talks about data privacy and tax.

The leaders of Microsoft, Intel and IBM are also set to attend the one-day Tech for Good summit at the Elysee Palace.

Mr Zuckerberg will not, however, be visiting the UK.

He has refused a request to testify before Westminster's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which had complained that an earlier appearance by his chief technology officer had failed to yield enough detail.

"Although Facebook says Mr Zuckerberg has no plans to travel to the UK, we would also be open to taking his evidence by video link, if that would be the only way to do this during the period of our inquiry," wrote the committee's chair, Damian Collins MP, in response.

A spokeswoman for Facebook was unable to say whom else Mr Zuckerberg would meet or where he would travel while in Europe.

But she gave the following statement: "We have accepted the Council of President's proposal to meet with leaders of the European Parliament and appreciate the opportunity for dialogue, to listen to their views and show the steps we are taking to better protect people's privacy."

The arrangements have displeased parliament's Brexit negotiator, who also serves as the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

"I will not attend the meeting with Mr Zuckerberg if it's held behind closed doors," tweeted Guy Verhofstadt. "It must be a public hearing - why not a Facebook Live?"

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