Liberals expected to face pressure over Wylie pilot project in 2016
Federal Liberals are sharing details about a $100,000 pilot project undertaken for their caucus research bureau by the Canadian data scientist who triggered an international uproar over his allegations that Facebook users’ data was inappropriately harvested for political gain. Christopher Wylie came forward in recent days with accusations that a voter-profiling company improperly collected private information from some 50 million Facebook users in order to help seal 2016 victories for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in the U.S. and in the U.K.’s Brexit referendum.
Wylie has said in media interviews that he not only played a key role in developing the data-mining technique, he also helped establish the Cambridge Analytica firm he alleges was behind it.
His allegations have forced policy-makers on both sides of the Atlantic to wrestle with growing public concerns that data collected by Facebook and other social-media companies are being misused as a way to influence elections.
After The Canadian Press revealed Wylie was contracted by the Liberals in early 2016, the party released more information Wednesday about the short-lived agreement _ and they insist that after seeing a sample of his services, they decided not to move forward. The issue emerged as a dominant theme during question period in the House of Commons, where political rivals repeatedly questioned the government on the contract and the issue of protecting Canadians’ online privacy. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer led off by demanding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explain Wylie’s exact role with the Liberal government.
“Protecting the personal and privacy information of Canadians should be a top priority for government,’’ said Scheer,
“Protecting the personal and privacy information of Canadians should be a top priority for government.” Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer
who noted how Wylie had also worked for previous Liberal leaders about a decade ago. “Yet the prime minister has failed to be honest with Canadians about the Liberal Party’s relationship with an individual who has exploited the private information of millions of people around the world.’’
Scott Brison, acting minister of democratic institutions, insisted all lawmakers in the House have a responsibility to protect the personal information of Canadians.
“All major political parties engage in data-driven activities,’’ said Brison, who later added he has contacted the federal privacy commissioner and Facebook in an effort to determine whether Canadians’ personal data had been compromised.
Shortly before question period, the Liberals issued a statement saying Wylie’s company, Eunoia Technologies, conducted preliminary work for the caucus research bureau at a cost of $100,000 in a contract done in accordance with House of Commons procurement rules.
They insisted that at no point did Wylie’s firm have access to any data from the research bureau.
Brison read from the statement in the House: “After seeing what was offered, Liberal caucus research bureau decided not to move forward.’’ The statement by the bureau’s managing director, Melissa Cotton, also said Wylie’s firm was contracted for several purposes, such as setting up social-media monitoring tools and the creation of samples of Canadians to help the party better understand the public’s opinions on government policies and other issues of national importance.