Apple CEO Tim Cook has issued a missive aimed at Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerberg, saying the social network has “gone beyond” the possibility of self-regulation. He called on governments to protect the civil liberties of the social network’s users.

Cook made the comments at a public forum in Chicago, saying he “wouldn’t be in (the same) situation” as Zuckerberg.

Cook’s comments come as Facebook faces government investigations in the USA and Britain, as well as four lawsuits, following revelations that the private details of around 50 million users were sold to political data outfit Cambridge Analytica and potentially used to influence the 2016 US election.

Apple’s boss reiterated his call for Facebook and other social networks to be regulated after the latest scandal, which he described as “dire”.