Cambridge Analytica accused of violating election laws News
Cambridge Analytica accused of violating election laws

Government watchdog group Common Cause [advocacy website] filed a pair of legal complaints [complaints, PDF] on Monday accusing Cambridge Analytica LTD and its affiliates of violating federal election laws that prohibit foreigners from participating in the decision-making process of US political campaigns.

Filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Department of Justice [official websites], Common Cause names multiple other defendants including parent company SCL Group Limited [corporate website], former CEO Alexander Nix, SCL co-founder Nigel Oakes, acting CEO Alexander Tayler and former employee Christopher Wylie. All defendants are non-US citizens.

Cambridge Analytica has been criticized recently for allegedly harvesting personal data of more than 50 million Facebook users without their permission.

According to FEC data, the Trump campaign paid Cambridge Analytica almost $6 million for services during the election cycle. Acting CEO Alexander Tayler has stated [press release] that “we in no way resemble the politically-motivated and unethical company that some have sought to portray.”

Cambridge Analytica has denied [press release] any wrongdoing based on these allegations, claiming they only use the social media platform for outward marketing.