Cambridge Analytica Scandal:

Ethics in Information and

Communication Technology

Presented by:
Nitesh Humagain (s4657824)
Bardan Sitoula (s4663484)
 Contents

 Overview of the scandal

 Application of ACS & ACM codes of ethics
 ACM code of ethics relevant to the scandal
 Social ethical & privacy issues
 Conclusion
 Lessons Learned
 References
 Overview of Cambridge Analytica scandal

The Cambridge Analytica scandal was a major data breach that occurred in 2018, involving the British political
consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, and the social media giant, Facebook. The scandal involved the unauthorized
harvesting of personal data of millions of Facebook users, which was then used for political campaigning purposes.
Cambridge Analytica obtained user data through a quiz app called "This is Your Digital Life" developed by Aleksandr
Kogan, a researcher at the University of Cambridge. The app collected data not only from its users but also from their
friends, without their knowledge or consent. The data collected included personal information, such as names,
locations, and even private messages.
Cambridge Analytica then used this data to build a psychological profile of users and target them with political
advertising during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This data was used to influence voter behavior and sway the
election in favor of Donald Trump.
Facebook was accused of failing to protect its users' data and allowing Cambridge Analytica to access and misuse it.
Facebook faced backlash from the public, government officials, and regulators, resulting in CEO Mark Zuckerberg
testifying before Congress.
Overall, the scandal highlighted the need for ethical guidelines and regulations in the collection, storage, and use of
personal data by technology companies.
 Application of ACS and ACM codes of ethics

The ACS (Australian Computer Society) and ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) codes of ethics are guidelines
that help computing and technology professionals make ethical decisions in their work. The ACS code emphasizes
the importance of professionalism, ethical behavior, and professional development, while the ACM code focuses on
general ethical principles, professional responsibilities, and organizational leadership imperatives.
Both codes are important because they promote ethical behavior and decision-making in the technology industry. They
help establish a common set of ethical standards and values that professionals should uphold, regardless of their
specific job or industry. These codes are designed to protect the public and ensure that computing professionals act in
the best interest of their clients and society.
Overall, the Cambridge Analytica scandal highlights the importance of adhering to ethical principles and codes of
conduct in the information and communication technology industry. It also serves as a reminder of the potential
consequences of unethical behavior in this field.
 ACM Code of Ethics relevant to the scandal 

There are several principles and points from the ACM and ACS code of ethics that are relevant to the Cambridge
Analytica scandal. These include:
• Principle 1: General Ethical Responsibilities
This principle emphasizes the importance of computing professionals to act with integrity, be honest and trustworthy,
and maintain high standards of ethical conduct. The Cambridge Analytica scandal involved the misuse of personal
data for political gain, which goes against this principle.
• Principle 2: Professional Responsibilities
This principle states that computing professionals should only use their skills for legitimate purposes and not engage
in activities that could harm others. The unauthorized harvesting of data from millions of Facebook users without
their consent for political purposes is a clear violation of this principle.
• Principle 3: Professional Competence
This principle requires computing professionals to maintain and improve their skills and knowledge to ensure that
they provide high-quality services. In the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the misuse of personal data shows a lack of
competence in handling data and ensuring its security.
• Principle 4: Primacy of the Public Interest
This principle emphasizes the importance of computing professionals to prioritize the public interest over
their own interests or those of their employers. The Cambridge Analytica scandal involved the use of
personal data to influence political campaigns, which goes against this principle.
• Principle 5: Competence
This principle requires computing professionals to maintain and improve their skills and knowledge to
ensure that they provide high-quality services. In the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the misuse of personal
data shows a lack of competence in handling data and ensuring its security.
• Principle 6: Privacy
This principle requires computing professionals to respect and protect the privacy of individuals and
ensure that personal data is used only for legitimate purposes. The unauthorized harvesting of personal
data from millions of Facebook users without their consent violates this principle.
 Social, ethical, and privacy issues
The Cambridge Analytica scandal raised several social, ethical, and privacy issues. These issues include:
• Misuse of personal data: The scandal highlighted the misuse of personal data by Cambridge Analytica, which obtained data on millions of
Facebook users without their consent. The data was used to create psychological profiles of users and target them with personalized political ads.
• Privacy violation: The scandal revealed a significant violation of privacy as users' personal data was collected and used without their knowledge
or consent. The scandal also highlighted the potential for such violations to occur on a much larger scale than previously thought.
• Manipulation of democratic processes: The use of psychological profiling and targeted political ads by Cambridge Analytica raised concerns
about the manipulation of democratic processes. The scandal sparked debates about the impact of technology on democratic processes and the
need for regulation to prevent such manipulation.
• Ethical concerns: The use of personal data to manipulate political outcomes raised ethical concerns about the responsibility of technology
companies to protect users' privacy and prevent the abuse of data for political gain.
• Social implications: The scandal raised wider social implications, including the role of social media in shaping public opinion and the potential
for technology to be used to manipulate individuals and undermine democratic institutions.
Overall, the Cambridge Analytica scandal highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of personal data and
technology, and the importance of ethical considerations in the development and use of information and communication technology.
 Conclusion
In summary, the presentation on "Cambridge Analytica Scandal: Ethics in Information and Communication Technology"
covered the following key points:
• The Cambridge Analytica scandal involved the misuse of Facebook data to influence political campaigns, raising
significant ethical concerns around the use of personal data and technology.
• The ACM and ACS codes of ethics provide guidance on ethical practices in the use of technology, including
principles around privacy, transparency, and informed consent.
• The Cambridge Analytica scandal raised several social, ethical, and privacy issues, including the exploitation of
personal data, the erosion of privacy rights, and the potential for technology to be used to manipulate public opinion.
• Strategies for communicating the issues raised by the Cambridge Analytica scandal included simplifying the
message, using storytelling, leveraging social media, engaging with stakeholders, using visual aids, and collaborating
with others.
Overall, the presentation highlighted the importance of ethical practices and transparency in the use of technology, as
well as the need for effective communication to raise awareness and drive action towards greater accountability and
responsibility.
 The presentation on "Cambridge Analytica Scandal: Ethics in Information
and Communication Technology" calls for individuals, organizations, and
governments to take responsibility and work towards ethical and responsible
use of technology. This includes:
 Individuals should become more aware of their rights to privacy and be
more vigilant about how their personal data is being used.

LESSONS  Organizations should prioritize ethical practices in the development and

deployment of technology, including transparency, informed consent,

LEARNED
and user empowerment.
 Governments should enact legislation and regulations that protect
citizens' privacy rights and hold organizations accountable for ethical
lapses.
 By working together, individuals, organizations, and governments can
create a safer, more responsible digital world that protects the rights and
freedoms of all. It is important to recognize that technology is a
powerful tool, and with great power comes great responsibility. Let us
all work towards a future where technology is used ethically and
responsibly, to benefit society.
 References 

 Cadwalladr, C. (2018, March 17). The Cambridge Analytica Files: 'I made Steve Bannon's psychological warfare tool': meet the
data war whistleblower. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/17/data-war-whistleblower-christopher-wylie-faceook-nix-bannon-trump
 Association for Computing Machinery. (2018). ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics
 Australian Computer Society. (2014). ACS Code of Professional Conduct.
https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/rules-and-regulations/ACS_Code_of_Professional_Conduct_v2.1.pdf
 Boyd, D., & Crawford, K. (2012). Critical questions for big data: Provocations for a cultural, technological, and scholarly
phenomenon. Information, Communication & Society, 15(5), 662-679. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2012.678878
 European Union. (2018). General Data Protection Regulation.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016R0679
 Narayanan, A., & Shmatikov, V. (2008). Robust de-anonymization of large sparse datasets. In 2008 IEEE Symposium on
Security and Privacy (pp. 111-125). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/SP.2008.33
 Privacy International. (2018). Our Work on Cambridge Analytica.
https://privacyinternational.org/campaigns/our-work-cambridge-analytica
 United States Senate. (2018). Protecting Consumers' Data: Examining Who Should Do It and How.
https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/4AA13C07-EB4B-4B47-879D-D290DB33D34F
Thank you