Page 43 - English Tehelka Issue 7 - April 15, 2018

column

Cambridge Analytica

row: Rahul gets new title

Sahi bhi hai, ‘pappu’ has become so outdated, overly used and
Being You obsolete whereas the new title ‘technologically illiterate’ looks so
freshly brewed, stylish, novel and global
Yashica
Jalhotra

he Cambridge Analytica started questioning CA’s methodologies
The writer, currently scandal started in the US but of targeting voters.
Editor (Digital Media), soon embraced the whole Common Cause, a US government opportunity to serve people.” Analytica to NaMo and INC app. allegations made by Gandhi. In a series
is noted for giving witty world. At first, what began as watchdog group, has accused CA of “We will continue to engage with According to a security researcher, of tweets, the BJP also questioned hi’s
tips on current issues, T yet another scandal involv- breaking US election law in a formal the government on this matter. We are BJP’s NaMo app and Congress’ INC app technical literacy and competence.
lifestyle, health, love, ing US President Donald Trump turned complaint. The watchdog group filed committed to vigorously enforcing our was sending personal user data to a “Rahul’s allegations are a classic
parenting, behaviour, out to be a dynamite which exploded two legal complaints against Cambridge policies to protect peoples’ informa- third-party domain. case of technological illiteracy. He
inner-self, spirituality, not the US presidential elections, Face- Analytica with the Federal Election tion and will take whatever steps are The Bharatiya Janata Party and Con- does not know that data analysis is
beliefs,relationships book security arrangements but also Commission (FEC) and the Department required that this happens,” Facebook gress kept on trading charges on Twit- not equivalent to spying. This new age
and everything else Indian political campaigning. of Justice. said in a statement. ter over the privacy concerns ques- is the age of information which Rahul
under the sun. And it didn’t take long time for tioned by a French security researcher ji will not understand,” BJP spokes-
What is Cambridge Analytica? Facebook data leak to reach India and The Indian Angle: NaMo, Chhota over Android apps of the two parties. person Sambit Patra said in a press
Cambridge Analytica (CA), started in prompted Indian IT Minister Ravi Bheem & technological illiteracy According to him, the NaMo An- conference.
2013, is a British political consulting Shankar Prasad to warn Facebook With the ongoing CA data scam, while droid app was sending personal user Union Information and Broadcast-
firm which combines data mining, data against any attempt to influence Indian Facebook lost shares worth nearly data to a third-party domain based in ing Minister Smriti Irani compared
brokerage, and data analysis for the General Elections of 2019. USD 50 billion, Indians politicians the US. He also said that the server for Rahul Gandhi to the cartoon character
electoral process. “Mr Mark Zuckerberg, you better got juicy material to start a blame a Congress membership app was situ- ‘Chota Bheem’ and tweeted, “@Rahul-
In 2014 -15, the data firm worked for note the observation of the IT minister game and explored all possible ways ated in Singapore. Gandhi ji, even ‘Chhota Bheem’
various political races before working of India. We welcome FB profiles in to link each other with the data Rahul Gandhi in a series of tweets knows that commonly asked permis-
on US President Donald Trump’s elec- India, but if any data theft of Indians mining firm. published on his official Twitter handle sion on Apps don’t tantamount to
tion campaign in 2016. is done through the collusion of FB On one hand, the BJP opened fire alleged that Prime Minister Narendra snooping.”
CA got exposed in March this year system, it shall not be tolerated. We have against Congress party for its alleged Modi was supplying data of Indians While alleging that the Congress
when The New York Times and The got stringent powers in the IT Act, we links with Cambridge Analytica. “The (who had signed up for his NaMo app) party’s app has been sharing data with
Observer reported on the Facebook shall use them, including summoning illegal use of people’s data from social to American companies. Singapore based servers, she tweeted,
and Cambridge Analytica data breach. you to India,” said the IT minister. media could turn out to be the Con- “Modi’s NaMo App secretly records “Now that we’re talking tech, would you
According to reports, the company While the social media giant faced gress’ “biggest scam” and the govern- audio, video, contacts of your friends care to answer @RahulGandhi ji why
acquired personal information of global flak, Zuckerberg apologized and ment would launch a probe into the & family and even tracks your location Congress sends data to Singapore Serv-
Facebook users and used it for political accepted their mistake. \ matter,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra via GPS. He’s the Big Boss who likes to ers which can be accessed by any Tom,
purposes without users’ permission. “We should not have trusted Cam- has said. spy on Indians. Now he wants data on Dick and Analytica?”
bridge Analytica’s certification, and On the other hand Congress spokes- our children. 13 lakh NCC cadets are
How Facebook is involved? we are not going to make that mistake person Randeep Surjewala said that being forced to download the app,” said AND IT CONTINUES…
The scandal, also known as the Face- again,” the CEO said while promising BJP’s factory of fake news has produced Rahul Gandhi in his latest tweet. Did you say Indian politicians are very
book and Cambridge Analytica data to step up its security. “I am really sorry one more fake product and alleged Earlier also Rahul tweeted, “Hi! My busy?
breach case, is the data theft of a collec- that this has happened,” Zuckenberg that CA has played a vital role in BJP’s name is Narendra Modi. I am India’s
tion of personal information of about 50 said. campaign in four states, including Prime Minister. When you sign up for Fakebook CEO has just approached
million Facebook users that Cambridge Zuckenberg has accepted the CA Bihar polls 2010 and its mission 272 my official App, I give all your data to Yashica Jalhotra and asked about ‘Chhota
Analytica began collecting in 2014. scam as a major breach of trust and plus campaign. my friends in American companies. Bheem’ app, so that the social media giant
The data was used to influence voter even felt sorry for the same. He added: And thus the war of words between Ps. Thanks mainstream media, you’re can copy its privacy policy and save his
opinion on behalf of politicians who “We have a basic responsibility to the BJP and the Congress continued but doing a great job of burying this critical company from defamation.
hire them. protect people’s data, and if we can’t do gradually shifted from international story, as always.”
Various political scientists also that then we don’t deserve to have the level to national level, from Cambridge The BJP came down heavily on letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 april 2018 42 www.Tehelka.com Tehelka / 15 april 2018 43 www.Tehelka.com

42-43 Being-u-Column.indd 2-3 30/03/18 3:26 PM