Tech Search

Zuckerberg's pr... ivate meetings came after a researcher released data on more than 100 million Facebook users, showing how easily it is to gather profile information about those users who are making their names, locations and e-mail addresses available to the public.

Federal regulators have become increasingly concerned about how data are being used and collected with no clear rules on protecting consumer privacy on the Web. Lawmakers have responded with proposed legislation to make that process more transparent and curb some of the practices of advertisers.

Facebook confirmed Zuckerberg's visit but didn't elaborate on the day of meetings.

"This is his first visit to the nation's capital in an official capacity and he looks forward to sharing our company's unique perspectives on 21st-century innovation, U.S. competitiveness, the economy and related issues with a range of interested parties," said spokesman Andrew Noyes.

Noyes declined to comment when asked whether Zuckerberg met with other lawmakers or regulators at the Federal Trade Commission or Federal Communications Commission.

Ron Bowes, a security researcher with Skull Security, said he collected profiles of Facebook users to show there is a "scary privacy issue" for users when their information is available to the public.

Facebook said it does not share its users' information with advertisers and that information collected by Bowes was already set as public by users.