Business Standard

CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA CLOSING OPERATIONS

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Cambridge Analytica, a data firm that worked for President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, is shutting down following the disclosure of its misuse of Facebook data. In March, the company suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix, and said it was launching an independen­t investigat­ion to determine if the company engaged in any wrongdoing in its work on political campaigns. Nigel Oakes, the founder of SCL Group, Cambridge Analytica’s British affiliate, confirmed that both companies were closing down.

Cambridge Analytica, a data firm that worked for President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, is shutting down following the disclosure of its misuse of Facebook data.

In March, the company suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix, and said it was launching an independen­t investigat­ion to determine if the company engaged in any wrongdoing in its work on political campaigns.

Nigel Oakes, the founder of SCL Group, Cambridge Analytica’s British affiliate, confirmed that both companies were closing down.

Facebook's current data crisis involving Cambridge Analytica has angered users and prompted government investigat­ions. To understand what's happening now, you have to look back at Facebook's old policies from 2007 to 2014. WSJ's Shelby Holliday explains. Illustrati­on: Laura Kammerman

The company decided to close its doors because it was losing clients and facing mounting legal fees in the Facebook investigat­ion, a person familiar with the matter said. The firm is shutting down effective Wednesday and employees have been told to turn in their computers.

The moves followed the release of a video that depicted Mr. Nix touting campaign tactics such as entrapping political opponents with bribes and sex. The sales pitch was captured by undercover journalist­s at British broadcaste­r Channel 4. Mr. Nix’s suspension also follows reports that the company improperly used data from millions of Facebook Inc. profiles without authorizat­ion.

The business had $15 million in U.S. political work in the 2016 election cycle. Since then, Cambridge hadn’t notched a single U.S. federal political client. It lost several commercial clients in recent months.

 ??  ?? Facebook’s data crisis involving Cambridge Analytica has angered users
Facebook’s data crisis involving Cambridge Analytica has angered users

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