Cambridge Analytica: What is it actually?
Cambridge Analytica is a political consulting company from the USA. Through the analysis of user data and targeted political messages to individual groups, to influence their choice behavior.
- In mid-March, 2018 a former employee of Cambridge Analytica has revealed, however, how the company came to the required user data.
- A Professor of Cambridge University, had programmed a Facebook App for polls called "thisisyourdigitallife". This App was then used by Cambridge Analytica.
- With the help of the App, not only the data of participants were collected, but also numerous data of friends of the participants.
Data scandal at Facebook (image: Pixabay)
Cambridge Analytica and Facebook: Where is the scandal?
- The survey of more than 270,000 Facebook users took part only. Due to a data leak Cambridge Analytica was able to access, but also on the Profiles of Facebook friends. Thus, a data set of around 87 million Facebook users.
- In addition to the coarse figures of Cambridge Analytica access to any Information that has saved Facebook over the user had. This not only includes public Posts and Likes, but also private messages.
- These data Cambridge Analytica used for commercial purposes. Among other things, Trump's critics, and especially undecided voters in the US election were influenced by the fight on Facebook. Through the data collected could be matched to the sent messages targeted to the individual target groups.
- In addition to the to illegal means based electoral support of Donald Trump, the scandal lies in the inaction of Facebook. Already since the end of 2015, Facebook of the data leak knew. Facebook has relied, however, that Cambridge Analytica deletes the data. Is not happening, however.
Data scandal at Facebook: What happens now?
- 11. and 12. April had to statements by Mark Zuckerberg in person before the American Congress. What are the legal consequences, is as yet unclear.
- Since the 9. April notified the affected users directly on Facebook. In Germany, approximately 310,000 Facebook should be the users of the data scandal affected. The following website from Facebook can you check if it also has taken.
- Really, you can't fight back against the theft of your data. The data have now been seized and are not available to the public. If you have your Facebook profile delete, will protect you just in front of a future data theft.
- Alternatively, you can move in as anonymous on Facebook. How this works, we will show you in this practical tip.
Cambridge Analytica has my data?
Read also: 7 things you don't yet have Facebook know.
