EU regulator opens investigation after major Facebook hack

Facebook’s lead regulator in the European Union, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, opened an investigation into the massive cyberattack Facebook reported last week to see if the company was able "to ensure the security and safeguarding of the personal data it processes,” the DPC said in a statement per Reuters.

• A Facebook spokesperson said in a statement that it will "continue to cooperate with" the investigation.

Why it matters: The investigation raises the prospect of penalties for Facebook under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission's top official told the Wall Street Journal that it "does not comment on specific incidents or companies" on Wednesday.