Data firm boss is suspended
CONTROVERSIAL data firm Cambridge Analytica last night suspended boss Alexander Nix.
The move against CEO Nix followed a Channel 4 news report which featured him appearing to boast of being able to entrap clients’ political rivals.
Nix was recorded talking of sending them “beautiful Ukrainian girls”.
He later denied the firm were involved in entrapment.
CA are caught up in the row over misuse of Facebook data for political ends.
The board said in a statement: “Mr Nix’s recent comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 and other allegations do not represent the values or operations of the firm and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view this violation.”
They said they had asked a top QC to lead an inquiry into the matter.
Meanwhile, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been summoned to give evidence before MPs over the revelations about users’ data.
Damian Collins, who chairs the parliamentary inquiry into fake news, said Facebook had previously given them misleading evidence on the matter.
He wrote to Zuckerberg, saying: “It is now time to hear from a senior executive with sufficient authority to give an accurate account of this catastrophic failure of process.
“Given your commitment at the start of the New Year to ‘fixing’ Facebook, I hope that this representative will be you.”