Cambridge Analytica Worked with Congress: Says Ex-Employee
Former employee Christopher Wylie said that CA has an office in India and it worked actively with the Congress party.
By Rakesh Raman
Christopher Wylie, a former employee of Cambridge Analytica (CA), has revealed today that the data analysis firm – which is facing a probe for using Facebook data for improper political activities – was quite active in India.
While deposing before the UK lawmakers who are investigating CA’s role in different countries, Wylie said that CA has an office in India and it worked with the Congress party, which has been facing a series of electoral defeats in all parts of the country.
Wylie added that he may substantiate his claims with documentary evidence about CA’s activities in India.
However, CA was quick to respond. The company said that Wylie was a part-time contractor who left in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of our work or practices since that date.
Christopher Wylie was a part-time contractor who left in July 2014 and has no direct knowledge of our work or practices since that date.
— Cambridge Analytica (@CamAnalytica) March 27, 2018
Wylie was prompted to speak out by the UK lawmaker with the fact that India is witnessing an unprecedented political discord and there are enough opportunities to destabilize the country – which may have been exploited by CA and Facebook. Wylie gave an affirmative reply.
Hey @facebook I am not a suspect in the ongoing CA investigation. Because I have been proactively working for months with the @ICOnews and British authorities. Because I am the whistleblower. pic.twitter.com/tuVvlAxpec
— Christopher Wylie (@chrisinsilico) March 26, 2018
Wylie also has clarified that he is not a suspect in the ongoing CA investigation because he has been cooperating as a whistleblower with the British authorities.
The ruling party BJP headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been alleging that Congress was using CA services to win elections in India.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, has issued a notice to CA, wherein the serious breach of propriety and misuse of data intended to profile and influence voting behavior has been highlighted.
According to a government statement, the company has been given time till 31st March 2018 to submit its response to the notice.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a government’s National award-winning journalist. He had been associated with the United Nations (UN) through United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as a digital media expert to help businesses use technology for brand marketing and business development. He also runs a free school for deserving children under his NGO – RMN Foundation.
