Cambridge Analytica, the British data analytics firm, raised its voice yesterday, April 9, denial of breaking laws and provided 10 relevant facts. It even said that Christopher Wylie is not a whistleblower, but rather repeatedly claimed to be their founder member.
Most importantly, the company said that it licensed the data in question from GSR (General Science Research), who received the data via a tool provided by Facebook. Analytica added that it didn’t use any data from GSR during the US election in 2016.
A portion of the press release by the company reads: “Hundreds of data firms have utilized Facebook data in a similar fashion. To be clear: Cambridge Analytica did not illegally or inappropriately collect or share data with anybody else.”
In reality, Wylie was a contractor of SCL Elections and left in mid-2014. His work for Cambridge Analytica began in August 2013 and ended in July 2014. He has no recent knowledge of our business or its practices and has admitted as much in his testimony. – Cambridge Analytica
Last month, Facebook banned the firm for alleged usage of data of 87 million users. Social media itself is in question in the scandal as the data was derived from its platform. Zuckerberg is supposed to face the court this week regarding the matter.
Cambridge University lecturer Aleksandr Kogan, another man in question, obtained data via a personality quiz app legitimately, according to Facebook. Then, he shared the same with Cambridge Analytica violating Facebook’s terms. Analytica was later hired by the Trump presidential campaign during the 2016 election.
Facebook learned about the data infraction in 2015 and asked that all the data be deleted, and did not inform the users back then. As it turns out, not all of the data were deleted.
As we find more Cambridge Analyticas, we’re going to find a comprehensive way to put them out and make sure people see them. – Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook
CEO Zuckerberg had been apologizing for his company’s involvement in the data scandal. He will be testifying to Congress today, April 10, on Facebook’s way of data usage and protection for the 2.2 billion users.
The social media company is presently on course to find other firms that may have gone for improper data usage by taking advantage of the platform.
Facebook is yet to comment on Cambridge Analytica’s press release. Stay tuned to know more about this case.
