Cambridge Analytica Acting CEO Responds to Allegations of Mishandled Data

Rachel DickerMar 23rd, 2018, 4:13 pm
 

Acting Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Tayler released a statement responding to the recent allegations of mishandling information from Facebook, which was given to the company under illegal terms by Cambridge researcher Aleksandr Kogan.

“I am sorry that in 2014 SCL Elections (an affiliate of Cambridge Analytica) licensed Facebook data and derivatives from a research company (GSR) that had not received consent from most respondents,” Tayler said. “The company believed that the data had been obtained in line with Facebook’s terms of service and data protection laws.”

The scandal has propelled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to make a rare media appearance, asserting that he will testify before Congress “if it’s the right thing to do.” Tayler asserted that Cambridge Analytica deleted the raw data from their server when Facebook requested they do so.

“Please can I be absolutely clear: we did not use any GSR data in the work we did in the 2016 US presidential election,” Tayler asserted. “We are now undertaking an independent third-party audit to verify that we do not hold any GSR data.”

He went on to discredit the source of the leak, Christopher Wylie, who many are calling a whistleblower. Tayler said he is no such animal.

“Christopher Wylie was a part-time contractor who left in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of our work or practices since that date,” he said. “He was at the company for less than a year, after which he was made the subject of restraining undertakings to prevent his misuse of the company’s intellectual property while attempting to set up his own rival firm.”

“The Board has launched a full and independent investigation into SCL Elections’ past practices, and its findings will be made available in due course,” he added.

[image via screengrab]

Tags: