London - Cambridge Analytica, a UK-based political consultancy firm, is said to be behind a series of Hillary Clinton defamation campaigns in the 2016 US presidential election.
The allegations further add to the list of serious allegations that were hit the firm, after previously they allegedly stole information from 50 million Facebook users profile without permission.
The news was revealed by an investigation by British media reporter Channel 4 News who met with a number of Cambridge Analytica executives including; CEO Alexander Nix and Political Division Manager Mark Turnbull.
The meeting was held at a London hotel. It was not clear when the meeting was held.
During the meeting, the journalist disguised himself as a representative of a Sri Lankan relative who intends to hire the services of Cambridge Analytica to influence the election results in the South Asian country. The talks at the meeting, according to Channel 4's claim, were captured on a hidden camera.
Allegations of Hillary Clinton's Pollution
The talks in the meeting also flowed down to the issue of the 2016 US Presidential Election. Cambridge Analytica executives also revealed their company's tactics in manipulating the election in Uncle Sam's country two years ago.
One of the manipulations they did was by polluting Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton - US Republican Party Republican Donald Trump's candidate. Similarly, as quoted from ABC Australia Wednesday (21/3/2018).
In the talk, the Cambridge Analytica executives claimed to be the mastermind behind a series of kampannies called 'Defeat Crooked Hillary'.
"The double 'OO' letter in the middle of the word 'Crooked' is filled with a pair of handcuffs, symbolizing that he (Hillary) deserves to be behind the bars of prisoners," said Charles Turnbull, Managing Director of the Political Division of Political Division in a meeting with Channel 4 journalists posing as clients of Sri Lanka.
The word 'Crooked Hillary' itself is a derogatory term used by Trump during the 2016 US Presidential Election Campaign. The use of the term was placed in the context of Hillary's electronic mail-out-leak scandal when he was US Secretary of State.
Turnbull continues, the strategy used by Cambridge Analytica to intensify the 'Defeat Crooked Hillary' campaign is to spread it to virtual networks and social media pages of organizations, non-governmental organizations and political activist groups. Including, through Facebook.
"We place it (Defeat Crooked Hillary campaign) into the internet pulse and then ... we see it grow, every now and then we push back the campaign and watch how it develops," Turnbull continued.
"Remarkably, the campaign was infiltrated into various internet networks without trace and identity, so, people will not be able to trace the original sender," he added.
During the meeting, Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix also revealed another tactic that his company used to disseminate the 'Defeat Crooked Hillary' campaign,
"I firmly believe that (the strategy) will not be investigated by the US authorities, as they have no jurisdiction to obtain information from foreign clients," Nix told Channel 4 journalist posing as a Sri Lankan client at the meeting.
It also recommends using a ProtonMail e-mail account that has the feature of automatically deleting e-mails within a specified time period. The goal, to be difficult to be tracked by other parties.
"We use ProtonMail which is set to be able to remove the e-mail automatically, so after two hours sent, the email will disappear by itself.There is no proof, no document, nothing," says Cambridge Analytica boss.
Boost Donald Trump in US Presidential Election 2016?
In a meeting between Channel 4 journalists disguised as Sri Lankan clients with Cambridge Analytica executives, the firm also claims to be the mastermind behind Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 US presidential election.
"(About Donald Trump's campaign in the 2016 US presidential election) We do all of the research, data collection, analysis, implementation targets, digital campaigns, television campaigns and strategies," said Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix to Channel 4 journalist disguised as a Sri Lanka.
Cambridge Analytica Political Division Manager Mark Turnbull's chief manager said: "The result is that Trump won by a margin of 40,000 votes in three states.
Responding to Channel 4's journalistic product, the Cambridge Analytica party denied that they were the mastermind behind Donald Trump's victory.
"Cambridge Analytica never claimed to win a presidential election for Donald Trump, and that report is absurd," continued Cambridge Analytica.
Denial of Cambridge Analytica
When asked for confirmation related to the news, the Cambridge Analytica denied it.
The analyst firm also explained that the report, "Deliberately has been manipulated and designed in such a way, to illustrate the negative side of how our company does business."
Meanwhile, in an official statement, the CEO of CA Alexander Nix also expressed similar denials.
Nix also declared his conversation with the fake client - who turned out to be Channel 4 journalist - is a 'hypothetical scenario' whose goal is only to be funny, not serious.
"We are not at all involved in such extortion and trapping (for political purposes)," he said.
"I emphasize once again that Cambridge Analytica is not involved in such a business activity (the scenario described)," he continued.
Steal Facebook Data Through Personality Quiz
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The New York Times and The Observer of London media reported that Cambridge Analytica allegedly exploited information from 50 million Facebook users and used it to develop techniques that could be used to support Donald Trump's campaign in the 2016 presidential election. The goal, to influence voters.
The company is affiliated with Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL) it has offices in London, New York, Washington DC, also in Brazil and Malaysia. Meanwhile, billionaire global investment manager (hedge fund) and Donald Trump supporter, Robert Mercer is the owner.
Cambridge Analytica has links with former Trump chief advisor Steve Bannon and Trump 2020 campaign manager Brad Parscale.
As quoted from thejournal.ie, Cambridge University Psychologist Aleksandr Kogan created a personalized prediction app, thisisyourdigitallife, which was downloaded by 270,000 people.
The app allows Kogan to access information such as content like what Facebook users like, where they come from within their profile data.
The information is then forwarded to Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL) and Cambridge Analytica.
To the Canadian television channel, CBC, Christopher Wylie, a former employee of Cambridge Analytica admitted, the company uses personal data obtained without consent.
That is one of the most severe data theft cases in Facebook history.
Since the startling news has surfaced, Facebook has blocked the pages of Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL) and Cambridge Analytica, as well as the accounts of Christopher Wylie and Aleksandr Kogan.
The Facebook side believes that thisisyourdigitallife application is in official status, but accuses Kogan of violating Facebook requirements by sending data to SCL or Cambridge Analytica.
The social media giant claimed to have known about the incident that took place in 2016 and asked all parties concerned to remove the data they get.
"Claims that this is a completely wrong data breach," Facebook said on Saturday, March 17, 2018.
The company said the app users allegedly consciously provided their information.
However, vice head of Legal Facebook, Paul Grewal admitted his side continue to investigate the claim.
"We will take legal action if necessary to hold them accountable and accountable for any unlawful behavior," said the Facebook, as quoted from VOA.
Meanwhile, the Cambridge Analytica strongly denied allegations directed at them.
The company claimed to have deleted Facebook data from third parties in 2014, after learning that the information does not meet the rules.
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At all cost. As long as they can achieve the previously given goals target..seems familiar right. Social engineering in action.