Cambridge Analytica

1. 69

   IslandBitesposted 7 years ago

   Uff. The plot thickens
   
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpbeOCKZFfQ
   
   "It's no good fighting an election campaign on the facts because actually is all about emotion."
   
   Sounds familiar.
   
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_loOgecLIrU
   
   Bannon-Lewandowski-Trump-Russia
   Another coincidence.
   
   Btw,
   
   Hotel+Prostitutes+Video+MI6
   
   Sounds familiar too.
   
   Could this company have anything to do with the Trump dossier?
   
   
   But it is way bigger than US elections...

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2. 69

   IslandBitesposted 7 years ago

   Trump and US elections
   
   Wow
   
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy-9iciNF1A

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   1. 85

      GA Andersonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Island Bites, this Cambridge Analytica story is an interesting one. But for me the interest is not associated with anything to do with Pres. Trump, or any politician.
      
      We know that in the last decade political campaigns have been relying more and more on data analysis, and voter-specific targeting. I recall some declarations that Pres. Obama's campaign was the most sophisticated digital data and social media operation of any previous campaigns in our political history.
      
      So, my thought is that this CA, (Cambridge Analytica), model is just the natural progression from snail-mail mailing list influence efforts.
      
      And it seems to me the logical question is whether it is wrong, or just something we must accept as a legitimate use of data - legitimately acquired.
      
      I think that the essence of CA's model is really no different than old-fashioned mailing list models - just a lot more sophisticated and in-depth.
      
      Social media users grant permission to have their data captured, (does anyone really read those Terms of Use they click to agree to - because they want a facebook or pinterest, or even Hubpages account?)
      
      If we grant companies this right, is it wrong that they use legally it? Without the Trump/Russia/anti-Hillary aspects of this CA story; do you think their business model and method is wrong? (as a generic "you" question of course)
      
      GA

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      1. 0

         PrettyPantherposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         I'm still not fully knowledgeable about all this, but I believe there is some question about the legality of some of their methods.
         
         https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/tech … ained.html

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         1. 85

            GA Andersonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Hi PrettyPanther, I followed your link, and understand that there is some controversy about the legitimacy of the method of data acquisition. But...
            
            Even that is besides the point of my comment. I believe that CA's model is the future. I also believe that companies, (including CA ), will just be more careful about their data acquisition methods.
            
            Internet users, in general, freely provide potentially valuable data, just by our use of the internet and social media platforms. And just as generally, I suspect very few users seriously read the TOS agreements they agree to to get what they want.
            
            Another for instance; Just the browsing history of someone could tell a CA-type algorithm that they were expecting a baby boy in a certain time frame, what they wanted to do to prepare, and probably even their income level by the types of things they looked at. We give Google, (or whatever search engine), permission to acquire this data in our agreement to their Terms of Service. So is it wrong for Google to make money from it?
            
            So, back my original question;
            
            "If we grant companies this right, is it wrong that they use legally it? Without the Trump/Russia/anti-Hillary aspects of this CA story; do you think their business model and method is wrong? (as a generic "you" question of course)"
            
            GA

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            1. 0

               PrettyPantherposted 7 years agoin reply to this

               No, I don't think their business model is wrong or somehow unethical, if that is what you mean by "wrong." As you said, if we check the "Terms of Service" box, then we agree to their terms.
               
               As long as these companies follow privacy laws and laws regulating what they can do with the data, I see no problem.
               
               I would like to see a law requiring that   a simplified "summary" version of TOS be presented along with the detailed, fully legal version, but that's a different subject.

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      2. 69

         IslandBitesposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Well, you tell me.
         
         "Offering bribes to public officials is an offence under both the UK Bribery Act and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Cambridge Analytica operates in the UK and is registered in the United States."
         
         It goes beyond the data issue. (Which, btw, it was not legitimately acquired by CA.)

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         1. 85

            GA Andersonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Nope, I can't tell you IslandBites. I only looked at your links. I don't recall any charge of bribery in the two that I looked at. But more specifically, my response, and general point, had to do with the operations model that is CA's business.
            
            Other than wondering if you are right that the data wasn't legally acquired, the point of your comment is to a direction other than the one of my comment.
            
            Do you have a thought on the point of my comment - beyond the political inference and motivation of your OP?
            
            GA

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3. 0

   PrettyPantherposted 7 years ago

   This Cambridge Analytica story is growing.  I don't yet fully understand all the details and ramifications, but I'm working on it.  :-)

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4. 69

   IslandBitesposted 7 years ago

   The power players behind Cambridge Analytica have set up a mysterious new data company
   
   http://uk.businessinsider.com/cambridge … ata-2018-3

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