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Snapchat hires lobbyists in wake of data breach

Scott Martin
USA TODAY
Snapchat CEO and co-founder Evan Spiegel at  Venice, CA headquarters.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Snapchat has hired Washington lobbyists after a data breach last week exposed millions of people who use its messaging service.

Venice Beach-based Snapchat's left an opening for hackers to obtain a reported 4.6 million user names and phone numbers, posted to an online database.

The startup has enlisted lobbyist firm Heather Podesta + Partners to help with communications. Snapchat will work with the firm toward "educating policymakers regarding the application's operation and practice," according to its lobbying disclosure.

Snapchat's hiring of lobbyists comes as privacy experts called for an investigation from the Federal Trade Commission, which could levy fines.

Snapchat enables people to send disappearing photo and video messages.

Snapchat disclosed in a blog post last month vulnerabilities had been reported to it by a security group. The exploit was discovered in its Find Friends feature, which allows people to upload contact lists to Snapchat.

The company said it had implemented safeguards making an exploit "more difficult to do."

Snapchat's disappearing messaging services has rode a massive wave of popularity among younger audiences.

Facing waning teen audiences, social networking behemoth Facebook offered more than $3 billion in an effort to acquire the startup last year.

Snapchat's 23-year-old co-founder, Evan Spiegel, spurned the offer amid multiple bids, sources told USA TODAY.

The fledgling Snapchat, just over two years old, has been approached with offers including an investment from China's Tencent Holdings that would value the start-up at $4 billion.

Investors have piled $123 million in funding into Snapchat for its promise as a next-generation messaging attraction.

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