The Cambridge Analytica scandal isn’t a scandal: this is how Facebook works

Re:The Cambridge Analytica scandal isn’t a scandal: this is ... by danso on Monday March 19, 2018 @07:56PM (#16624602)

Yes, because the Obama backers signed up for an app that was clearly affiliated with the Obama campaign. Were these backers assholes for knowingly wanting to spam their friends with Obama propaganda? Sure, because everyone hates spamming.

Cambridge Analytics is accused of using data that was harvested from a quiz app that was purportedly the creation of a Cambridge professor. I think that CA is being accused of something different than just spamming, but part of the overall problem is the subterfuge involved, which is generally a frowned upon thing in U.S. election regulations.

For example, it's not shady if Clinton buys up all the ad space during your favorite shows to spread her liberal indoctrination. It is problematic if those commercials run without a "This ad funded by the Hillary Clinton for President campaign" disclaimer.

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Re:The Cambridge Analytica scandal isn’t a scandal: this is ... by karmelapple on Monday March 19, 2018 @11:25PM (#16625799)

It sounds like they are being alleged of lying and not identifying themselves as having been affiliated with either a PAC or a campaign. By doing that, that's breaking the law.

Additionally, the CEO has basically admitted - under hidden camera - that they are fine with blackmail and lying. Is blackmail and lying technically illegal? I'm not sure. But if you lie and blackmail as part of a political campaign, but do not let people know you are a political campaign, you have broken the law.

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Re:The Cambridge Analytica scandal isn’t a scandal: this is ... by danso on Tuesday March 20, 2018 @12:17AM (#16626024)

I haven’t been reading all the latest CA coverage, but from what I’ve seen from the Guardian’s and Observer’s latest deep dive, there’s an issue of violating UK data privacy laws, since CA is alleged to have been involved in Brexit related campaigns. In these stories, it’s not alleged that Trump’s campaign did anything illegal.

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Re:The Cambridge Analytica scandal isn’t a scandal: this is ... by useryournoggin on Monday March 26, 2018 @06:10AM (#16677826)

Cambridge Analytica didn't conduct marketing for Brexit campaign groups.

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Re:The Cambridge Analytica scandal isn’t a scandal: this is ... by sheepmullet on Tuesday March 20, 2018 @05:46AM (#16627103)

> Yes, because the Obama backers signed up for an app that was clearly affiliated with the Obama campaign

The Obama app was misleading - it was not at all clear about how the users Facebook data would be used - the key difference is at least they knew the app was political in nature and they likely supported Obama.

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