The Truth About Data Collection And How “Personal” Your Information Really Is

Separating The Legal From The Illegal

Photo Credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Before going any further, it is important to point out the 270,000 thisisyourdigitallife users permitted the collection of data. All third-party applications work this way when new users sign up. Aleksandr Kogan, who developed thisisyourdigitallife had no permission to allow another company to obtain his userbase’s information.

Cambridge Analytica then took the illegal step of going into users profiles and mining data from their friends. Nearly all of Facebook’s reported 87 million users affected never signed up for the app. The massive breach of trust has place Facebook under fire. The company has responded by changing and updating numerous policies.