Theresa May attacks Cambridge Analytica and demands 'full cooperation' in Facebook data investigation

Allegations of data misuse 'very concerning', says PM

Theresa May has said she expects Cambridge Analytica and Facebook to “cooperate fully” with the Information Commissioner’s investigation of allegations that users’ personal data was taken without their consent.

Allegations that Facebook users’ profiles were mined for data used to produce micro-targeted political adverts without their knowledge “are clearly very concerning”, Ms May said.

“It is essential that people can have confidence that their personal data will be protected and used in an appropriate way,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman said on Monday.

“It is absolutely right that the Information Commissioner is investigating this matter. We expect Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and all the organisations involved to cooperate fully.”

It comes a day after Damian Collins, the chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, accused Cambridge Analytica’s chief executive of making “false statements” to MPs.

Alexander Nix “deliberately misled the committee and Parliament” by denying his company had received data from the Global Science Research (GSR) company, Mr Collins said in a statement, referencing reports in The Observer that tens of millions of Facebook users’ data had been captured by GSR in a deal with Cambridge Analytica.

But Cambridge Analytica denied Mr Nix’s testimony was misleading, saying it “strongly refutes that reporting because it is wrong”.

A spokesperson told The Independent: “Alexander Nix did not mislead the committee. He told the committee that Cambridge Analytica had received data from GSR in relation to a research project that they undertook on our behalf in 2014.

“He went on to say that Cambridge Analytica does not hold or use any data received from GSR. This is because Cambridge Analytica, in cooperation with Facebook, deleted all data and derivatives received from GSR after it came to light that GSR, as data controller, had contravened its contract with Cambridge Analytica and Facebook’s terms of service.

“None of this data was used by Cambridge Analytica as part of the services it provided to the Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign.”

The company was “very happy” to answer further questions from Mr Collins and the committee, it added.

Its statement appeared to contradict the official transcript of the 27 February oral evidence session on whether it had received data from GSR, however. Mr Nix’s exchange with Mr Collins on that topic is recorded as:

Chair: Does any of your data comes from Global Science Research company?

Alexander Nix: GSR?

Chair: Yes.

Alexander Nix: We had a relationship with GSR. They did some research for us back in 2014. That research proved to be fruitless and so the answer is no.

Chair: They have not supplied you with data or information?

Alexander Nix: No.

Chair: Your datasets are not based with information you have received from them?

Alexander Nix: No.

Chair: At all?

Alexander Nix: At all.

The Independent has asked Cambridge Analytica for further comment.

On Sunday Mr Collins also pointed the finger at Facebook, saying: “Data has been taken from Facebook users without their consent, and was then processed by a third party and used to support their campaigns.

“Facebook knew about this, and the involvement of Cambridge Analytica with it, and deliberately avoided answering straight questions from the Committee about it.”

Mark Zuckerberg should personally answer MPs’ questions, he said.