The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal: A Detailed Report

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal. It begins by outlining the problem, which involved Aleksandr Kogan extracting data from Facebook users through a survey app. The report identifies the platform (Facebook), the actors (Kogan and Cambridge Analytica), and the users as key elements. It then details the consequences, including loss of trust, financial impacts, data security breaches, and potential electoral process interference. The report also explores responses to the scandal, such as legal actions and service suspensions. Finally, it suggests possible solutions, including improved policies, government protocols, awareness campaigns, and increased user attention to data sharing. The report concludes with a list of relevant references.

Cambridge
Analytica data
scandal

Problem of data scandal
• Cambridge Analytica hired Aleksandr Kogan to extract data from
Facebook users.
• Aleksandr Kogan developed app, this is your digital life, where a
survey was provided to users in return of a payment to them.
• Facebook allowed Aleksandr Kogan to integrate the app in Facebook
and collect data through survey.
• The data was used for United States elections.

Causes of data scandal
• The Platform- Facebook was the platform where the scandal took
place.
• The Conductor- Aleksandr Kogan and Cambridge Analytica.
• The User- Users are however not responsible but they should have
read the policies of the app.

Consequences
• Loss of trust among users
• Loss of Facebook shares and revenues
• Loss of Facebook user’s data
• Security of data compromised
• Alleged electoral processes

Responses
• Brazil and India raised questions to Cambridge Analytica
• Lawsuits have been filed in United States
• Amazon Web Services suspended its services from Cambridge
Analytica
• Facebook stocks has gone down due to negative responses

Possible Solutions
• Devising advanced and improved policies
• Government should set adequate protocols and standards to
minimize this type of risks
• Awareness campaign should be raised for data protection
• Adequate attention is necessary to take by the users to control data
sharing.

References
• Adams, B., Clark, A. and Craven, J., 2018. It is Free and Always Will Be-Trading Personal Information and Privacy for the Convenience of Online
Services. arXiv preprint arXiv:1804.08491.
• Albright, J., 2016. How Trump’s campaign used the new data-industrial complex to win the election. USApp–American Politics and Policy Blog.
• Cadwalladr, C., 2017. The great British Brexit robbery: how our democracy was hijacked. The Guardian, 20.
• Confessore, N., 2018. Cambridge Analytica and Facebook: The Scandal and the Fallout So Far. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-scandal-fallout.html [Accessed 2 May 2018].
• Doward, J., Cadwalladr, C.C.C. and Gibbs, A., 2017. Watchdog to launch inquiry into misuse of data in politics. Sat, 4, pp.22-29.
• Hern, A. and Waterson, J., 2018. Facebook in 'PR crisis mode' over Cambridge Analytica scandal. [online] the Guardian. Available at:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/24/facebook-in-pr-crisis-mode-over-cambridge-analytica-scandal-outrage-hallow-
aleksandr-kogan [Accessed 2 May 2018].
• Johnson, C., 2018. Forbes Welcome. [online] Forbes.com. Available at:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/05/01/what-the-cambridge-analytica-scandal-means-for-the-future-of-
facebook-marketing/#19cd5bda291c [Accessed 2 May 2018].
• Keach, S., 2018. Facebook data breach – what happened with Cambridge Analytica and are you safe?. [online] The Sun. Available at:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/5843838/facebook-data-scandal-cambridge-analytica-safe/ [Accessed 2 May 2018].
• Lin, Y.W., 2018. # DeleteFacebook is still feeding the beast–but there are ways to overcome surveillance capitalism.
• Meredith, S., 2018. Here's everything you need to know about the Cambridge Analytica scandal. [online] CNBC. Available at:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/21/facebook-cambridge-analytica-scandal-everything-you-need-to-know.html [Accessed 2 May 2018].
• Williamson, B., 2018. Why education is embracing Facebook-style personality profiling for schoolchildren. The Conversation.
• Yglesias, M., 2018. The case against Facebook. [online] Vox. Available at: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/21/17144748/case-
against-facebook [Accessed 2 May 2018].

Thank You