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FTC Said to Reach $5 Billion Settlement With Facebook Over Privacy Issues

The fine would mark its biggest against a tech company

Image of Facebook headquarters sign at night — The vote marks the end of a probe that began early last year.Getty Images

The Federal Trade Commission has approved a $5 billion settlement with Facebook to end a probe into the company’s privacy practices that began after the Cambridge Analytica scandal revelations early last year, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The agreement came down to a 3-2 vote that split along party lines with the three Republican commissioners backing the motion and the two Democrats holding out for tighter regulations, according to the Journal. The agreement is expected to also include restrictions on Facebook’s data collection policies.