Senator Suggests Sending Mark Zuckerberg to Prison

"I think he ought to be held personally accountable..."

Personally Accountable

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) thinks Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg might one day find himself behind bars.

"Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly lied to the American people about privacy," Wyden told Willamette Week. "I think he ought to be held personally accountable, which is everything from financial fines to — and let me underline this — the possibility of a prison term."

This Is Fines

So far, the U.S. government has seemed content to punish Facebook for its transgressions financially.

In July, the Federal Trade Commission levied a fine of $5 billion against the social media company for its privacy violations. That same month, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Facebook with misleading investors — and then agreed to settle the charge for $100 million. Those are big fines, sure, but pocket change for Facebook.

It Could Happen

The U.S. has yet to directly charge Facebook's CEO with any crimes — let alone prosecute him — but Wyden noted in his interview with Willamette Week that such actions wouldn't be without precedent.

"In financial services, if the CEO and the executives lie about the financials, they can be held personally accountable," he told the Oregon newspaper — meaning Zuckerberg could very well find himself wearing prison orange one day in the future.

READ MORE: Senator says Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg should face 'possibility of a prison term' [CNBC]

More on Mark Zuckerberg: Watch Deepfaked Mark Zuckerberg Rant About How He Controls You