Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, Essay Example

The Cambridge Analytica case expounds on the various measures incorporated by the election body of Donald trump to assist him in winning the 2017 ballot. Cambridge Analytica focused on manipulating and incorporating Facebook as a medium to develop fiction profiles that promote the campaign (Desire, 2020). The electoral body acknowledges how people are massively consumed by the internet and decided to use that auspicious opportunity to their advantage. The primary issue facing Cambridge Analytica is its failure to offer a straightforward explanation regarding where they collected massive data regarding the clients using the Facebook platform. They are faced with a severe case to answer since the possible conclusion is hacking into the Facebook company’s software to retrieve a massive amount of information on the users.

Cambridge Analytica explained how they obtain massive information regarding the clients and their respective families (Tuttle, 2018). The primary way was by formulating an application and placing it as a downloadable advertisement that attracts many clients. With that strategy, they accumulated a massive amount of data and managed to control the various internet sites they logged in. The Facebook application’s main weakness is that they fail to advise their customers to refrain from downloading any internet-friendly application since it might be a tracking device by the hackers. The strategy was orchestrated in 2016 when the presidential debates had commenced, and every potential candidate strived to gain popularity and win the voter’s hearts (Desire, 2020). Therefore, the Donald Trump electoral board developed the program of illegally obtaining client face book information by creating friendly applications that would fascinate the voter’s mind and manipulate them to voting for Trump.

Gradually, Facebook users noticed the manipulation that was instigated in their phones through the application. At first, many individuals were annoyed by the company and prowess to protect their confidential information. Facebook company loosed massive clients during the Cambridge Analytica scandal; almost half of the clients had logged of their accounts. They incorporated that drastic strategy because it was the most conscious way for the Trump team to refrain from analyzing their views and thoughts (Desire, 2020). Furthermore, the Facebook manager decided to eradicate any app advertisement of the platform for security purposes. After placing all the necessary security measures, the company regained the clients that lost trust and moved to other safer media platforms.

The primary business law issue covered by the article is the breaching of private information. Cambridge Analytica accessed illegal information and manipulated it to align with the electoral body vouching for Trump. It is an ethical consideration that must be dealt with since a considerable population was affected by that careless move (Tuttle, 2018). The immediate action taken by Cambridge Analytica was to face the repercussions of their illegal strategy against the citizens. Furthermore, Facebook management ensured to install security protection against any malicious applications retrieving vital private data

After the scandal, the platform held Cambridge Analytica responsible for all the harm that it had brought on the clients (Perrin, 2018). The manager thought it could have been best when they asked for the data rather than hacking through the system; thus, they were subjected to a massive fine to cater to the collateral damage and the loss. The scandal triggered the Facebook platform to undergo significant changes that would prevent a repeat of such an incident. Internet users became more alert on using the internet and limited massive data they remit to Facebook and other platforms. Cambridge Analytica is still present in the people’s minds despite all the efforts incorporated to ensure face book is safe (Desire, 2020). It has left a massive fear that the situation might reoccur due to the increasing hacking literacy rate. Therefore, the manager has issued a guideline safety that they should adhere to and have safe media platform interactions.

Reference

Desire L. (4 May 2020). Case Study on Cambridge Analytica embezzling on Facebook user’s data. Retrieved from https://legaldesire.com/case-study-on-cambridge-analytica-embezzling-on-facebook-users-data/

Tuttle, H. (2018). Facebook scandal raises data privacy concerns. Risk Management, 65(5), 6-9.

Perrin, A. (2018). Americans are changing their relationship with Facebook. Pew Research Center, 5.