Cambridge Analytica , the data analytics firm involved in a malicious gossip with Facebook over misuse of private data point , is learning what it ’s care to have their privacy encroach upon . Britain ’s entropy commissioner announce on Monday that she is essay a warranty to search the company ’s power and servers for any evidence of illegal activity .
It ’s been an consequential few days for the data firm . The dramatic play all beganover the weekendwith an intragroup whistle-blower coming onwards to say that Cambridge Analytica had acquired the personal data on 50 million Facebook users through a method that violated Facebook ’s terms of table service . Then , on Monday , the UK ’s Channel 4 ranthe second partof an on-going investigation into Cambridge Analytica ’s louche political practice .
Thesegmentfrom Channel 4 featured undercover video recording of a man identified as Cambridge Analytica ’s primary executive , Alexander Nix , speaking with reporters he believe to be potential clients . FromChannel 4 :
In one exchange , when enquire about apprehend up stuff on political opponents , Mr Nix say they could “ send some fille around to the candidate ’s home ” , supply that Ukrainian girl “ are very beautiful , I find that act upon very well ” .
In another he said : “ We ’ll provide a big amount of money to the campaigner , to finance his campaign in exchange for land for instance , we ’ll have the whole matter recorded , we ’ll blank out the face of our cat and we post it on the cyberspace . ”
extend bribes to public functionary is an offense under both the UK Bribery Act and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Cambridge Analytica operates in the UK and is register in the United States .
After the segment ventilate , Britain ’s Information Commissioner , Elizabeth Denham , seem for aninterviewwith Channel 4 ’s Jon Snow . Denham say that her office “ has been carrying out an investigation into data analytics and political profiling and micro - targeting for several calendar month now . And we have heard similar allegations during our investigation . ”
The commissioner emphasized that Cambridge Analytica and Facebook are only one part of their probe , which involves 30 system and was started with the purpose of excuse to the public what happens to their personal data during political campaigning . Denham said that she issued a requirement for entree to Cambridge Analytica on March 7th and that she was not satisfied with its response . She say that her business office will formally request the stock-purchase warrant tomorrow , and she is seeking access code to the computers and property of the firm .
Facebook ’s own forensic police detective willsoon beginan independent review of Cambridge Analytica ’s systems , according to an promulgation today . Denham tell that “ Facebook has been cooperative with us and has provided a cracking deal of information about the 50 million profiles . We ’re hold back on more information , but it ’s Cambridge Analytica that has been uncooperative with our investigation . ”
We ’ve reach out to Cambridge Analytica for comment but did not receive an contiguous response . Considering how much vehemence the man identified as Nix in the video puts on node secrecy , we ’re go to go out on a branch and guess that the company is n’t very proud of .
TheWashington Postreported on Monday that “ Cambridge Analytica earn more than $ 16 million from 2014 to 2016 from nearly 20 Republican candidate and political committees . ” The campaign to elect Donald Trump for prexy account for $ 5.9 million of that in 2016 , according toFECfilings .
you’re able to read the ICO ’s full stately statementhere .
Update 6:50pm : Facebook has confirm that listener from Stroz Friedberg , the digital forensics firm it lease to conduct the probe of Cambridge Analytica ’s servers , were enquire to leave by UK self-assurance . “ At the request of the UK Information Commissioner ’s Office , which has announced it is pursuing a imprimatur to convey its own on - site investigation , the Stroz Friedberg auditors stood down , ” Facebook said in astatement .
[ Channel 4,Information Commissioner ’s Office ]
Cambridge Analytica
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