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Facebook Suspends Donald Trump's Data Operations Team For Misusing People's Personal Information (theverge.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Verge: Facebook said late Friday that it had suspended Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL), along with its political data analytics firm, Cambridge Analytica, for violating its policies around data collection and retention. The companies, which ran data operations for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election campaign, are widely credited with helping Trump more effectively target voters on Facebook than his rival, Hillary Clinton. While the exact nature of their role remains somewhat mysterious, Facebook's disclosure suggests that the company improperly obtained user data that could have given it an unfair advantage in reaching voters. Facebook said it cannot determine whether or how the data in question could have been used in conjunction with election ad campaigns.
In a blog post, Facebook deputy general counsel Paul Grewal laid out how SCL came into possession of the user data. In 2015, Aleksandr Kogan, a psychology professor at the University of Cambridge, created an app named "thisisyourdigitallife" that promised to predict aspects of users' personalities. About 270,000 people downloaded it and logged in through Facebook, giving Kogan access to information about their city of residence, Facebook content they had liked, and information about their friends. Kogan passed the data to SCL and a man named Christopher Wylie from a data harvesting firm known as Eunoia Technologies, in violation of Facebook rules that prevent app developers from giving away or selling users' personal information. Facebook learned of the violation that year and removed his app from Facebook. It also asked Kogan and his associates to certify that they had destroyed the improperly collected data. Everyone said that they did. The suspension is not permanent, a Facebook spokesman said. But the suspended users would need to take unspecified steps to certify that they would comply with Facebook's terms of service.
In a blog post, Facebook deputy general counsel Paul Grewal laid out how SCL came into possession of the user data. In 2015, Aleksandr Kogan, a psychology professor at the University of Cambridge, created an app named "thisisyourdigitallife" that promised to predict aspects of users' personalities. About 270,000 people downloaded it and logged in through Facebook, giving Kogan access to information about their city of residence, Facebook content they had liked, and information about their friends. Kogan passed the data to SCL and a man named Christopher Wylie from a data harvesting firm known as Eunoia Technologies, in violation of Facebook rules that prevent app developers from giving away or selling users' personal information. Facebook learned of the violation that year and removed his app from Facebook. It also asked Kogan and his associates to certify that they had destroyed the improperly collected data. Everyone said that they did. The suspension is not permanent, a Facebook spokesman said. But the suspended users would need to take unspecified steps to certify that they would comply with Facebook's terms of service.
The companies don't belong to Trump but just did business with him? Talk about clickbait.
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
And they seriously say they don't know how that information could have been misused? Bullshit. If I can figure it out after spending 20 minutes with their stupid API, then they built it into the business plan and it's not possible they aren't fully aware of exactly how it was meant to work.
They're only mad that their proprietary data got out, not that it was being "misused." That's the power of marketing, baby!
Perhaps NSA needs to suspend Facebook operations for a few days. Ya know, aiding and abetting known terrorists and Maoist communists, to probably a number of financial frauds, starting with the founder...
The DC kleptocrats, from DNC-Hill to Sen. Cruz(R) had much more intrusive data operations.
I would attach more blame to Facebook for allowing people to pull a stunt like this
Nullius in verba
All we need is one enterprising FCC chairman to reintroduce network neutrality with a content neutrality rider packed in with it.
There is nothing like a 'government review' to see how fast the digital town squares modify their use of selective enforcement against conservative voices.
Sad.
We learned by studying black people.
If you didn't want the strategy used, you should have condemned it when your side did it. Get used to it.
Do it Donald, Do it!
Fire Facebook off the internet!
FB worries about someone out there collecting and abusing personal information....
Itâ(TM)s a Onion headline, right?
One of the filthiest companies on Earth run by a confirmed psychopath is deeply concerned someone is abusing personal information.....
This THIS is why comedians can't find work.
When will Rusher thing end?
Bob?
The "but but Russia did X" angle has turned into an embarrassment that even the DNC is now trying to distance themselves from. Mainly because the only evidence of collusion with Russia is pointing right back at the DNC and the Clintons.
I'm not a Democrat...
Of course, Facebook can't have competition
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
It was not that long ago that the Trump team announced the guy who will run the 2020 re-election campaign is going to be the guy who ran Trump's digital campaign efforts, and there were stories about how he had cleverly taken advantage of a program Facebook offered to BOTH campaigns to embed teams to help with digital outreach (Facebook was NOT favoring Trump, Hillary simply turned down Facebook's offer).
In the modern era of outraged boycotting left wingers who go nuts against any company they suspect has been anything other than hostile to their enemies, is is possible this is Facebook's way of trying to deflect and protect itself from blowback?
Odd and bad things can happen when mobs with torches and pitchforks (real or virtual) are on the rampage.
We know. Y'all left in a huff after some Democrats decided not to along with that shit anymore.
For that you got an insightful mod? Fundamental misconception of lumping the Trump voters into one mass. How can you claim much insight with such a flawed foundation?
There are many small groups that form Trump's constituents. It will be interesting to find out which ones remain in his "deep base" when this next election comes around.
While I sort of agree that collectively they are responsible for the #FatNixon fiasco, this story is about a couple of groups that were subject to convenient manipulation via Facebook. I think the most important descriptor is "mindless mushrooms", but Putin only harvested what we sowed when we destroyed the public schools. We allowed them to be divided and conquered. There are still a few good ones, but most are obedience schools you wouldn't send your dog to. Thoughtful evidence-based citizens was NOT the objective, but most schools now produce future wage slaves or docile prisoners who will obey the ads to buy toothpaste or vote for #PresidentTweety.
Solution to follow in the other comment...
Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
the problem was lying about how the data was going to be used. Also, how the hell did they aid/abet Maoist communists? If you mean China a) why the hell are you talking about? You mean because FB is available in China? and b) China couldn't be any less communist if they tried. Hell, you used the word Kleptocrate, you'd think you'd understand China is a Kleptocracy.
Now, would FB have gone after them if Trump hadn't won? Probably not. What would have been the point? But Trump did win (thanks Hilary, you incredibly stupid bitch you). They're expecting Trump & co to pull this shit again and telling them up front it won't be tolerated. Seem legit to me.
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But for the wrong side, so we're suspending them.
Seriously, though. The data was from a relatively small number of users who were not necessarily all U.S. voters a year before the firm was hired by the Trump campaign and there's a possibility that maybe not all of it was deleted, so the Verge acts like Facebook confirmed Trump stole the election. Look at the weasel language in the current version of TFA as of this writing (almost the opposite of the excerpt in the summary, incidentally):
Facebook’s disclosure suggests that the company improperly obtained user data that could have given it an unfair advantage in reaching voters.
The Verge thinks that Facebook suggested something might have happened. It just looks like yet another desperate attempt by Hillary supporters to blame anyone other than themselves for losing to the second-worst* presidential candidate ever.
* He appeared to be the worst, but then he did beat someone.
All Hilary had to do was take him seriously and campaign properly (or at all) in the swing states. Instead she wasted time in states like Az where she didn't have a prayer in hell of winning. She thought she was gonna get some sorta Reaganesque style super victory. Funny thing is there were two things that I kept hearing people say they didn't like about her: Cold & Arrogant. And boy, did she prove that right.
Worst thing is the right wing corporate Dems haven't learned a damn thing and they're probably gonna run Hilary 2.0 (Kamala Harris). What they hell is the bloody point of voting for a Democrat who's gonna run things like a Republican?
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When did that happen? Earlier this morning? Jim Crow was a Democrat. Democrats were the slave holders. Democrats voted against civil rights. Democrats continue to point out the race, gender, sexual preference, ad nauseum on a constant basis. The bigotry never ended; it just went under cover.
"These Negroes, they’re getting pretty uppity these days, and that’s a problem for us, since they’ve got something now they never had before: the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we’ve got to do something about this — we’ve got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference." - LBJ
There's your wonderful DNC.
A brand attempts to stop the freedom of speech?
Great brands will move in to support the freedom of speech.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
It happened under Johnson with the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Then Nixon (with his Sothern strategy) basically flipped the white southerners to the Republicans. This basically flipped the racial makeup of the two parties.
Uh huh. The party of race and social hierarchy is still racist and discriminatory.
Just try leaving the plantation. They'll brand you a traitor and try to destroy your life.
#FatDraftDodgingNixon is more like it.
Nixon served in WW2, he didn't get five medical deferments for "bone spurs" on his heel like Trump. Trump is nothing more than a a narcissist living off the fame his inheritance provided.
Give me a break, this is news; that an analytics company many not have abide by Facebook's rules. Isn't this politics? Here's a hot tip - If it's not illegal the it's legal, Facebook doesn't make the law just yet their candidate didn't win enough electoral votes.
Seriously. "Trump badness this. Trump badness that."
Bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch.
Collusion. Misuse. Unfair.
Summed up in a three letter word.
WAH!
At this point, he's won. Continually throwing this shit in his direction only makes you look stupid.
And the more stupid you look, the more likely it is we're going to see a successful Trump 2020 bid.
Because his opposition are so busy bitching about what's already immutable, that they're not planning for the future. AT ALL!
Want to forego Trump 2020? Stop making yourselves look like bitchy crybabies and start doing things that will actually make you look like reasonable picks in all the upcoming elections. Nobody gives a shit what you SAY anymore. Because it's all fucking lies when you get down to it. They give a shit about your track record and your actions. What you DO.
So banging on about gay tranny thirdsex black muslim women having suffered infinity + 1 millennia of oppression and YOU CAN'T SAY SHIT!
That's not getting you anywhere.
Actually getting people EMPLOYED, protecting said gay tranny thirdsex black muslim women from being fired for bias, and working to build the economy, bringing down costs and increasing people's take-home while still getting them quality health care?
THAT kinda shit is what'll get you elected.
So stop ragging on and get to fucking work already.
Vacation's over.
Or just start planting Trump 2020 signs in your front yard now.
Your choice.
Everyone knows Clinton took more money from the Chinese than the Russians.
SELECT members WHERE IQ <75 AND DEPLORABLE=true
For that you got an insightful mod? Fundamental misconception of lumping the Trump voters into one mass. How can you claim much insight with such a flawed foundation?
There are only two kinds of Trump voter: wealthy people who want to keep all their money and don't care about anyone else, and total goddamned idiots who will never, ever get out of Trump what they thought they would get when they voted for him.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Facebook may have suspended them because, well, Facebook, and Zuck, are very left of center...
They did this under the guise of the lie they are protecting users.
isn't enough. What is going to preserve my privacy? You either may sure the apps can do that or you make the punishment severe enough to stop the behavior.
...I recall the plaudits and praise that was widespread after the 2008/2012 election for the Obama team's aggressive and comprehensive use of Facebook and other online data to target and sway voters.
Funny that the dems went from cutting edge to incompetent in 2 elections, and even more interesting that use of those tools is now somehow considered malignant.
Almost like there's a double standard...
-Styopa
they voted for Trump because he ran as a populist. He promised them good jobs, healthcare and a future. Hilary promised them them nothing. At best slightly lower interest rates on their Student Loans.
There's a ton of really desperate folks in swing states. Hilary called them the Blue Firewall and ignored them. Trump listened to them and told them what they wanted to hear. It doesn't matter that he was lying. There was a chance, however small, that he wasn't. They had nothing to lose.
The real problem is America abandoned a significant portion of the working class to abject poverty. That's a terrible idea if you like stability. Large numbers of people (especially men) with nothing to lose are dangerous as hell.
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Then it's fair to say that only Dem sycophants and recipients of Clinton graft were the voters on the other side, n'est-ce pas?
Then it's fair to say that only Dem sycophants and recipients of Clinton graft were the voters on the other side, n'est-ce pas?
And people who choose the lesser of evils.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
on 4 consultancy firms. I'm pretty sure she got Rhomey'd. e.g. the firms thought they had an easy win so they pocketed the money and didn't campaign. The folks on the ground in the swing states didn't have any support. One guy in an important and competitive district was on tape complaining he only got one short visit from Barney Frank and nobody was going around distributing signs. Meanwhile on election day I had a guy driving around in one of those trucks with advertisements on the back for Trump.
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Sure, it is wrong for one political group to have such a decided advantage and I am far from being a Republican, still less a Trump supporter, but having a political organization show a bit more Internet savvy isn't a matter for private corporations to regulate. If the Republicans and Trump team got an advantage in the last election by doing this, you can be sure it is going to become an important part of the Democratic Party's strategy in the next election.
One last cynical note: Tactics like this help a party get insight into the will of the collective people. Which in turn allows them to say the right things to their target demographic and make the most effective attacks on the opposition. As noted above, it helps "get out the vote". I just see zero evidence that any of this actually affects the behaviour of political figures once they are elected.
I need a wheelchair van for my son. Help me get the word out. https://www.gofundme.com/wheelchair-van-for-jj
Here's the problem with this:
Facebook could legitimately feel that terms were broken, or they might not. They might or might not choose to enforce those terms against customers that they "like" (no pun intended) that just so happen to be affiliated with the other side. There's a normal liberatarian-ish response to just say that private companies can do whatever they want, but the Social Networks are *so* powerful (80%+ engagement, 90%+ ad revenue if you include Google AdWords) that removal of that is a huge competitive disadvantage to disfavored candidates and parties.
We already have some regulations requiring equal broadcasting time and access to over-the-air political ads during a campaign season, which were developed during the time when TV was the most important demographic advertising source around. In 2018, this is social media.
We need real regulation of the handling of personal data and ad networks, to prevent tech industry's overwhelming power being used only for candidates its employees specifically support. These aren't just "regular companies" any more... They have more day-to-day power over American culture than Standard Oil ever did, and unless/until real anti-trust regulation happens and data storage is handled independently from advertising, we need to ensure the situation doesn't get more and more worse.
Hire a Linux system administrator, systems engineer,
3. He took us out of TPP
These are all bad things he did.
I see this particular item differently: a stopped-clock moment in which President Trump helped save the world from the United States. After the United States left the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it passed without the harmful copyright provisions on which USTR insisted at the behest of the music and film industry associations of America. How is helping to contain the MAFIAA's push to spread copyright maximalism a bad thing?
Let's see:
a. Backed off on ending DACA and endorsed amnesty. Whatever your opinion (personally I think it'd be nuts to try and deport them at this point) of this it was core promise.
b. Gave Carrier millions in subsidies to keep jobs that they promptly sent to Mexico as soon as nobody was looking.
c. Expanding the number of H1-B & H2-B recipients, failed to repeal Obama's executive order allowing their spouses to work in this country.
d. Did a $1.5 trillion tax cut where 80% of the benefits are for the 1%, the remaining 20% expire in 10 years and his party is already talking about ending Medicare & SS to pay for them (without him saying a word to contradict them).
e. Backed down from Mexico paying for the wall, will have the American tax payer pay for it.
f. Promised to drain swamp, but the same Goldman Sachs guys in charge that everybody does.
I could go on and on, but these are the ones that stand out most. You can't even make the argument that he's just incompetent. He promised us he was the best. If he's a boob he lied about being smart. Trump lies. Realize it, switch the the Democratic party, vote in your primary and for fucks sake elect Bernie or another left winger this time. If you want a populist vote for a real one.
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all over the place. DACA _is_ amnesty.
You'd support Sanders & the Democrats (NOT the DNC, there's a difference) because unless you're independently wealthy you're a member of the working class and he (and his ilk) are the only ones who genuinely have your interests at heart. If you think you're some kind of mover and shaker who's going to make it in the world, well, you're shit-posting in response to a borderline libtard troll. That ship sailed my friend. Like it or not you're one of us, and Trump & co are going to fuck you royally.
Unless you're one of those Russians I keep hearing about. If so, carry on then.
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No. And you won't reach the end of it. It's an overly simplified causal model, but it has it's element of truth.
I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
Your main comment is an imposed ontology, but I regard that as unfair. It is important to understand that the binary decision to vote or not vote for #PresidentTweety was overlaid on a rather complicated reality. I actually think the key to understanding Trump's so-called victory is the poor analytic skills of people who could convince themselves that Trump was lying to everyone else, but telling ONLY THEM the truths they wanted to hear. Yes, they might well know that Trump had said exactly opposite things to other people, but they believed he was lying at those times. The amazing thing about a YUGE liar like Trump is that nothing he says can be regarded as more or less accurate just because he said it.
You shouldn't have wasted the keystrokes feeding the (invisible to me) troll below. As someone who doesn't like lawyers in general or Hillary Clinton in particular, I think the "lesser of two evils" is ridiculous as regards 2016. No one is perfect, but Hillary's imperfections were trumped up [humor intended] over decades to portray her as some kind of Bond villain. In reality she is a fine person (well, as fine a person as such a shrewd lawyer can be) while Trump is legitimately evil (though perhaps just coerced into becoming evil by his weakness, ignorance, self-love, and stupidity).
The bottom line is that the First World Cyberwar is over, and America lost. Badly.
Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
for illegals. The reason they didn't want this is that if you could come here illegally and become a citizen everybody would. There's never be any incentive to come here legally. He then reneged on this promise. I don't know how I could make it any simpler.
And you have to start somewhere. Single payer healthcare is a good place. Regulating Wall Street to prevent another market crash is another. Just because good ideas won't pass doesn't mean you throw up your hands and give up. You've surrendered to easily. Our problems _can_ be solved without relying on the invisible hand to save us. Actions speak louder than words. Go out there and vote Bernie (and the Justice Democrats, google the phrase) and you'll see those actions.
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losing to Trump hit her like a brick. At this point she's just a bitter angry old woman. Besides, the lawsuit would go on forever. She'd be suing other multi-millionaires. She'd die before anything came of it.
Yes, if she was less incompetent her firms wouldn't have fleeced her. If she'd had less baggage Trump couldn't have won. If nationalism hadn't grown so much she could have won. If the Russian's hadn't interfered she could have won. If she hadn't ignored the working class she could have won. There's a dozen or more ifs.
Trump is such a monumental failure of our Democracy that no one thing could have made it happen. It took a complete breakdown of this countries institutions to put a shmuck like Trump in the Whitehouse.
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when the Republicans had to help Johnson pass it because the Democrats (who were a large majority) could not get enough of their own party to vote for it - even after Johnson told them that passing the bill would mean the n*****s (he used the actual word) would be eating out of Democrat hands for more than a century?
Yeah... those same Democrats who even to this very day think the most important thing about a person is skin color, and who even in 2016 allocated tickets at their convention along racial lines. They're the same Democrat party that's screaming about election tampering but opposes voter ID because they claim black people are to stupid to get an ID. Yup. Somehow Trump is the racist. [head scratch]