Facebook is facing a new firestorm after reports a data research firm, connected to the 2016 Trump campaign, illicitly harvested personal data from 50 million users.
Whistleblower and former Cambridge Analytica employee, Christopher Wylie, says the company collected data after users took a psychological quiz using the app “thisisyourdigitallife.”
Cambridge Analytica then allegedly used that wealth of information to target voters with political advertisements.
Despite Cambridge Analytica insisting it did not misuse the information, Facebook has blocked it from its platform, accusing the firm of failing to delete the illicit data collected in 2015.
In a statement, Facebook said, “we will take legal action if necessary to hold them responsible and accountable for any unlawful behavior.”
Politicians are already calling on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress.
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota fired off a tweet calling this a “major data breach,” adding that “it’s clear these platforms can’t police themselves.”
