Facebook Suspends Whistleblower Who Exposed Cambridge Analytica
Mark Zuckerberg and company have suspended the account of Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie. The decision arrives just days after Wylie blew the whistle on the company and Channel 4 aired a TV special that focused on the corrupt business practices of the cyberwarfare-focused firm.
Cambridge Analytica used shady practices to steal Facebook user data for use in the development of psychographic profiles that may or may have played a part in the election victory of Donald Trump.
Suspended by @facebook. For blowing the whistle. On something they have known privately for 2 years. pic.twitter.com/iSu6VwqUdG
— Christopher Wylie ?️? (@chrisinsilico) March 18, 2018
Wylie came forward in recent weeks to expose the firm, providing bank transfers, company documents, and other information about the firm.
A self-described gay, Canadian vegan, Wylie developed what he calls “Steve Bannon’s psychological warfare mindfuck tool.”
Cambridge Analytica stole Facebook user data and combined profiles with various analytical tools to create psychographic profiles that could be used to manipulate political campaigns. The group was led by billionaire investor Robert Mercer.
Wylie’s former employer, Cambridge Analytica, took issue with Wylie’s characterization of events which were first reported in stories by The Times and The Guardian.
We told @nytimes & @guardian that Mr. Wylie was a contractor for CA. He was not a founder. https://t.co/OI7ZmN8RA4
— Cambridge Analytica (@CamAnalytica) March 17, 2018
Cadwalldr took to Twitter to speak about the suspension on the behalf of Wylie.
Plaintive phone call from Chris: he's also banned from WhatsApp.
And – outraged voice! – Instagram.
"But how am I going to curate my online identity?" he says.
The Millennials' first great whistleblower? And @facebook hitting him where it hurts https://t.co/abjfh4td4g— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) March 18, 2018
Facebook has reportedly known about Cambridge Analytica’s operations for the past two years. The social network has not responded to the account suspension at this time.