Information misuse was rife, inquiry told

THE misuse of UK citizens’ personal data was “rife” between Brexit campaign group Leave.eu and other businesses owned by its founder Arron Banks, MPS have been told.

The claim came from a former Cambridge Analytica (CA) employee who worked with Mr Banks before the referendum.

Cambridge Analytica met regularly with representatives of Leave.eu, Ukip and Eldon Insurance, owned by Mr Banks, over five months, said Brittany Kaiser, CA’S former business development director, in evidence submitted to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee’s fake news inquiry.

Ms Kaiser, who left CA in March after four years with the election consultants and data firm, said: “In hindsight, I think there is reason to believe that misuse of data was rife among the businesses and campaigns of Arron Banks. If the personal data of UK citizens who just wanted to buy car insurance was used by Goskippy and Eldon Insurance for political purposes, as may have been the case, people clearly did not opt in for their data to be used in this way by Leave.eu.

“I have similar concerns about whether Ukip members consented to the use of their data.”

Asked whether she had any knowledge of CA employees “ghosting” in and out of countries to influence elections, as suggested by former CA chief executive Alexander Nix in secret filming by Channel 4 News, Ms Kaiser laughed and replied “no, not at all”.

She said: “It’s shocking how far sometimes a sales pitch could go.”