The social media network announced yesterday ( 14 May) that it has investigated thousands of apps since March, when reports by the Observer and the New York Times alleged millions of users’ personal data had been improperly harvested by data analytics consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook has been conducting a “comprehensive review” of each of the third-party apps with access to large amounts of information on its platform, prior to the company changing its policies in 2014.

Ime Archibong, vice-president of product partnerships, wrote in the announcement that where concerns arise over an app, the company will conduct interviews, make requests for information and carry out audits, which could include “on-site inspections”.

200 apps have been suspended to date, pending investigation. Any apps that are subsequently banned for misusing data will be listed on a dedicated website that allows users to check whether they were affected, Facebook said.

Archibong wrote: “There is a lot more work to be done to find all the apps that may have misused people’s Facebook data – and it will take time. We are investing heavily to make sure this investigation is as thorough and timely as possible.”