Facebook and Cambridge Analytica: The Facts Behind the Front

Mandatory+Credit%3A+Photo+by+Andrew+Harnik%2FAP%2FREX%2FShutterstock+%289622942o%29%0AFacebook+CEO+Mark+Zuckerberg+arrives+to+testify+before+a+joint+hearing+of+the+Commerce+and+Judiciary+Committees+on+Capitol+Hill+in+Washington%2C+about+the+use+of+Facebook+data+to+target+American+voters+in+the+2016+election%0AFacebook+Privacy+Scandal+Congress%2C+Washington%2C+USA+-+10+Apr+2018

Andrew Harnik/AP/REX/Shutterstoc

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Andrew Harnik/AP/REX/Shutterstock (9622942o) Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives to testify before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington, about the use of Facebook data to target American voters in the 2016 election Facebook Privacy Scandal Congress, Washington, USA – 10 Apr 2018

The big story on the major news networks on Tuesday April 10th was the appearance of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, before a joint session of multiple Senate committees including the notorious Judiciary Committee. The topic of discussion and a major headline in the news as of late was the massive  “data breach” that exposed the data of millions of Facebook users. Data breaches happen all the time in the ever expanding world of technology. Why is this breach in particular a big deal? Trump…that is why there is such a big upheaval.

The political firm, Cambridge Analytica, is under fire for reportedly accessing the personal data of approximately 87 million Facebook Users. This political data firm, affiliated with the Trump Campaign, used the data to identify potential voters.

Facebook users were asked to take a quiz that, in order to take, the user had to grant Cambridge Analytica access to their information. Based on an individual’s account activity their political background was assessed.

The legal issue with these actions? None whatsoever. The supposed activity of Cambridge Analytica was legal. The firm was given consent prior to the collection of data from users accounts.The problem is that certain political figures claim this gave the Trump Campaign an edge in the 2016 election. As a result of this action possibly helping a republican candidate, the Democrats in Congress are now calling for the extreme regulation of social media groups.

The artificial concern raised by members of Congress and the way in which the story has been publicized makes this occurrence seem like it was some egregious violation of the rights of Facebook users. Yes, some users may feel tricked because they possibly did not realize what they were consenting to. Still, they granted consent to Cambridge Analytica to utilize their data.

The irony of this entire story is that it has happened before. The Obama Campaigns of 2008 and 2012 utilized the same techniques. The only difference now is the name on the campaign.