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Watch live: Zuckerberg testifies before European Parliament

By Sommer Brokaw
Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the European parliament on Tuesday. File Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI
Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the European parliament on Tuesday. File Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI | License Photo

May 22 (UPI) -- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before European lawmakers Tuesday about the Cambridge Analytica data privacy scandal.

Zuckerberg's appearance before the European Parliament follows two appearances before U.S. Congress last month, and weeks of efforts by officials to get him to do the same in Europe.

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European Parliament President Antonio Tajani announced Monday the Facebook chief would appear.

"I have personally discussed with Facebook CEO Mr. Zuckerberg the possibility of webstreaming meeting with him," Tajani tweeted. "I am glad to announce that he has accepted this new request. Great news for EU citizens. I thank him for the respect shown."

The hearing will begin at 12:20 p.m. EDT.

Zuckerberg was set to meet first with Tajania before a group of lawmakers. The meeting is expected to last about an hour. The European Parliament is the legislative arm of the European Union.

Cambridge Analytica obtained data from as many as 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge. Zuckerberg has apologized and pledged Facebook will do more to protect users' privacy.

Tuesday's meeting may improve relations between Facebook and the EU, but it's further irritated British Parliament, which has yet to secure a meeting with Zuckerberg despite repeated requests.

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Earlier this month, parliament leader Damian Collins threatened Zuckerberg with a formal summons to get him to testify.

"There are over 40 million Facebook users in the U.K. and they deserve to hear accurate answers from the company he created and whether it is able to keep their users' data safe," he wrote in a letter to Zuckerberg.

In the letter, Collins said he wanted Zuckerberg to testify in London by Thursday.

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