Facebook alerts users affected by Cambridge Analytica scandal

In a statement, Facebook said that most of the people affected were based in the United States (70.6 million). Up to 2.7 million Facebook users in the EU were affected, with another 2 million affected in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Other countries affected include Mexico, Canada, India, Brazil, Vietnam and Australia, according to Facebook.

In a further effort to improve transparency after the scandal, Facebook will send all 2.2 billion of its users a notice on Monday that will allow them to see what apps they use and what data they are sharing with those apps.

The company said this will allow people to shut off the apps completely or turn off third-party access to their apps.

Cambridge Analytica is at the centre of a debate over whether it used the personal data of millions to influence the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit referendum.

“I started Facebook, and at the end of the day I’m responsible for what happens on our platform,” Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said. “I’m serious about doing what it takes to protect our community.”

Zuckerberg is set to testify before US lawmakers this week.