Ireland’s online privacy watchdog to investigate Facebook over data breach

The breach has affected 533m people around the world, including about 1.5m Irish users

Facebook has previously downplayed the problem. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Ireland’s online privacy watchdog has launched an investigation into Facebook after reports that data belonging to more than 500m users worldwide was leaked online.

The Data Protection Commission (DPC), which is responsible for upholding privacy rights across the EU, said it had engaged with the social media giant about the issue in a statement on Wednesday.