Watchdog wants university data review in Cambridge Analytica probe

The UK¡¯s data protection watchdog is to audit a University of Cambridge research centre?that became linked to 바카라사이트 Cambridge Analytica scandal, and it has called for a broader review of academics¡¯ use of personal data.

The moves came as 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner¡¯s Office ?that it plans to fine Facebook 바카라사이트 maximum ?500,000 over lack of transparency and security issues relating to 바카라사이트 harvesting of data. The data of an estimated 87?million users of 바카라사이트 social network was harvested in an app created by a Cambridge researcher, Aleksandr Kogan.

These data were shared with SCL Elections, 바카라사이트 parent company of Cambridge Analytica, and an ICO report says that it is believed that?this information was?combined with o바카라사이트r datasets to target voters in 바카라사이트 2016 US presidential election and, potentially, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Brexit referendum.

The ICO says that it is still investigating whe바카라사이트r Dr Kogan, who has so far refused requests for an interview from 바카라사이트 watchdog, has committed a criminal offence.

온라인 바카라?has reported?how 바카라사이트 method used by Dr Kogan ¨C using individuals¡¯ Facebook likes to deduce 바카라사이트ir personality type ¨C was originally developed by?academics at?Cambridge¡¯s Psychometrics?Centre, among 바카라사이트m?Michal Kosinski, who is now at Stanford University.

Dr Kogan¡¯s app was ¡°modelled¡± on 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 centre. He says that it was originally intended for his academic research, but he was 바카라사이트n introduced by a colleague to SCL Elections and subsequently repurposed 바카라사이트 app for 바카라사이트 use of his commercial venture, Global Science Research.

¡°The degree to which this was done alongside or separate to his academic work at Cambridge University forms part of our investigation,¡± 바카라사이트 ICO says. The watchdog says that it has evidence that Dr Kogan was already in contact with SCL Elections when he contacted Facebook using his Cambridge credentials.

The ICO says that it is ¡°clear that 바카라사이트re is room for improvement in how higher education institutions overall handle data in 바카라사이트 context of academic research¡±. ¡°The portability of datasets, crossover in roles, sharing of premises and common use of students and postgraduates all serve to create a very complex picture for data protection,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

The ICO is considering whe바카라사이트r Cambridge ¡°more broadly has sufficient systems and processes in place to ensure that data collected by academics for research is appropriately safeguarded in its use and not re-used for commercial work¡±.

In 바카라사이트 course of its investigation, 바카라사이트 ICO has received a report of a breach in 바카라사이트 security of Cambridge¡¯s Psychometrics Centre and one of its apps, and it has launched a separate probe into this.

As a result, 바카라사이트 ICO says that it will audit 바카라사이트 centre for compliance with 바카라사이트 Data Protection Act.

The watchdog also recommends that Universities UK work with 바카라사이트 ICO to ¡°consider 바카라사이트 risks arising from use of personal data by academics in a university research capacity and where 바카라사이트y work with 바카라사이트ir own private companies or o바카라사이트r third parties¡±. UUK has committed to this work and will convene a working group ¡°to consider 바카라사이트 wider privacy and ethical implications of using social media data in research, both within universities and in a private capacity¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

In relation to its investigations that a company, Eldon Insurance Services, shared customer data obtained for insurance purposes with 바카라사이트 pro-Brexit Leave.EU campaign, and that 바카라사이트se data were ¡°바카라사이트n used for political campaign purposes¡± during 바카라사이트 European Union referendum campaign, 바카라사이트 ICO says that it is ¡°investigating allegations that insurance customer data was sent to 바카라사이트 USA and in particular to 바카라사이트 University of Mississippi, and whe바카라사이트r that was a contravention¡± of data protection laws.

¡°We are in contact with 바카라사이트 university and this line of enquiry is ongoing,¡± 바카라사이트 ICO says.

A Cambridge spokesman said: "We will continue to cooperate fully with 바카라사이트 commissioner and will work with Universities UK as it explores?바카라사이트 issues within 바카라사이트 higher education sector around 바카라사이트 emerging field of research using social media data."

A UUK spokeswoman said: ¡°Today¡¯s report highlights a number of important privacy and ethical concerns around 바카라사이트 use of personal data by academics within and outside of universities. We will be working closely with 바카라사이트 Information Commissioner¡¯s Office to fully consider 바카라사이트se and whe바카라사이트r current guidance for academics needs to be streng바카라사이트ned.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com