Watchdog scrutinising use of data analytics for political ends
The ICO will assesses how analytics is being used, after reports linking the Brexit campaign to a firm that uses artificial intelligence to identify key voters.
The information watchdog has revealed it is scrutinising political use of the public’s private data amid concerns over allegations involving an analytics firm linked to Leave.EU.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced it was assessing how data analytics is being used for political ends following reports linking the Brexit campaign, backed by Nigel Farage, to a firm that uses artificial intelligence to identify key voters.
On Friday, pro-remain Labour MP Stephen Kinnock called on the Electoral Commission to investigate allegations that Leave.EU had not declared the role of the firm, Cambridge Analytica (CA), in its campaign.
An ICO spokeswoman said: “We have concerns about Cambridge Analytica’s reported use of personal data and we are in contact with the organisation.
“We are also conducting a wider assessment of the data protection risks arising from the use of data analytics, including for political purposes, and will be contacting a range of organisations. We intend to publicise our findings later this year.”
A CA spokesman told The Observer that bosses at the firm are “in touch with the ICO, and are happy to demonstrate that we are completely compliant with UK and EU data law”.
Leave.EU has denied any wrongdoing and told The Guardian that any formal work with CA took place “way before you had to report expenditure”.
