*By Alisha Haridasani*
Facebook said it will resume its process of reviewing third-party apps using new, tighter controls after the Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed holes in the social network's data privacy protocols.
“We’re going to be taking a higher level of expectation when we look at your applications,” said Ime Archibong, Facebook’s vice president of product partnerships, in his keynote speech Wednesday at Facebook’s annual developers' conference.
Facebook also announced that it will restrict the amount of data that apps have access to and enable users to see exactly what data is being used by third-party apps, or more easily delete apps they no longer use.
Facebook halted its review of all outside apps after it was revealed that users' data had been mishandled by a third-party app and shared with the research firm Cambridge Analytica.
The decision to suspend reviews ー and the changes ー frustrated some developers, who said their businesses was disrupted. But Archibong told Cheddar's Alex Heath in an interview Wednesday that most developers understand in “the long run that’s the right thing to do.”
“Facebook’s making these changes not because we’re trying to be hard or add more friction or be disruptive to the building process but truly to ensure that people trust the products that we’re building,” Archibong said.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/behind-the-curtain-at-facebooks-f8-conference).
Anthony Sassine, a senior investment strategist at KraneShares, joined Cheddar to discuss Rivian's historic public debut after the company achieved an $86 billion valuation — more than either Ford or GM. He said the big IPO was a great opportunity for the U.S. to position itself as a leader in the EV space after lagging behind Europe and China. "When you have certainty for growth for the next 10 to 15 years, investors are willing to pay more," he said. "So, this is a massive opportunity for the whole space."
The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ride-hailing company discriminates against customers with disabilities. The DOJ is arguing that its two-minute wait period before a cancellation fee is applied violates the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Food delivery giant DoorDash is acquiring European food delivery company Wolt. The all-stock deal is valued at $8.1 billion and is expected to close in the first half of 2022. The companies say they share a mission to build a global delivery platform. Gerber Kawasaki investment advisor Eva Agi joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss what the deal means for Doordash, as well as its customers and investors.
Identity verification startup Socure recently raised $450 million dollars in a series E round, bringing the company's valuation to $4.5 billion. Socure says it is now the highest-valued private company in the identity verification space, and that the funds will be used to accelerate its mission to verify 100% of good identities and eliminate identity fraud across all industries. Socure Founder and CEO Johnny Ayers joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
With more companies offering employees flexibility in work schedules, Airbnb is looking to accommodate flexible travel plans. Chief Strategy Officer Nathan Blecharczyk joined Cheddar to discuss the growing trend of people staying in Airbnbs for longer periods of time. "In December over the holidays, in North America, we are seeing a 68 percent increase in the demand for month-long stays relative to years past," he said.
