According to Facebook, in total, around 87 million users are affected, with approximately 1.1 million in the UK.
All Facebook users will be getting a message similar to the ones below. If you get the one on the right, some of your data may have been shared with Cambridge Analytica.
All Facebook users will be getting a message similar to the ones below. If you get the one on the right, some of your data may have been shared with Cambridge Analytica.
Whether or not your data was affected comes down to whether you or your Facebook 'friends' used Facebook to log on to the 'This is your Digital Life' website.
Check your Settings
All users will get a link to check which apps and websites have access to your Facebook data. If you don't check this periodically, do have a look - you might be surprised at what you find.
No need to wait for the link from Facebook - just go to the settings menu and select 'Apps and Websites' from the menu. If you see anything you don't recognise or don't trust, you can remove it or edit the properties where you can generally amend some of the settings. If you are surprised at what permissions an app has - don't be. It was probably all in the terms and conditions that you didn't read when you clicked the 'agree' box when you signed up.
As a general rule, we always advise clients not to use Facebook, Google or LinkedIn accounts to log in to other services. It might seem convenient that there is one fewer password to remember, but most users have no idea what data they are sharing as a result and where it might end up.
Even you have some basic security practices in place, bear in mind that your Facebook 'friends' may not share your privacy concerns. You have no idea what their privacy settings are like and who they might be sharing your data with.
This won't be the end of the Cambridge Analytica saga. Facebook's disclaimer published with their figures admits, "We do not know precisely what data the app shared with Cambridge Analytica or exactly how many people were impacted.”
There are some other obvious questions that arise from the Cambridge Analytica affair.
"Who else was employing similar techniques to Cambridge Analytica?"
"How long has this been going on?"
"What does Facebook itself do with users data?"
Some users simply won't care that advertisers or political consultants or data analysts have access to their Facebook data.
However many will have concerns over how social media companies are allowing others to access and analyse huge quantities of personal data.
It may not be such a big deal if global brands are paying social media companies to try to manipulate you to switch to their brand of coffee or deodorant or energy drink. But if any organisation, state or individual with the right resources can use personal data from social media to disrupt the democratic process, we should all be worried.
There are some other obvious questions that arise from the Cambridge Analytica affair.
"Who else was employing similar techniques to Cambridge Analytica?"
"How long has this been going on?"
"What does Facebook itself do with users data?"
Does it Really Matter?
Some users simply won't care that advertisers or political consultants or data analysts have access to their Facebook data.
However many will have concerns over how social media companies are allowing others to access and analyse huge quantities of personal data.
It may not be such a big deal if global brands are paying social media companies to try to manipulate you to switch to their brand of coffee or deodorant or energy drink. But if any organisation, state or individual with the right resources can use personal data from social media to disrupt the democratic process, we should all be worried.
It's worth remembering - as the not-so-old saying goes - "If you're not paying for it, you are the product!"
Links
Facebook News Release
Links
Facebook News Release
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