Last week investigative reports by The New York Times and the Observer revealed that Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm, had amassed a massive chunk of Facebook user data for some 50 million people without ever getting their permission. This data was reportedly used to influence voters in the US Presidential elections and Britain's EU referendum, as Cambridge Analytica and its parent company Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL) worked as part of Donald Trump's campaign team and the Euro-skeptic Brexit campaign. Read | A detailed low down of the Cambridge Analytica controversy But Cambridge Analytica and SCL's impact was not just limited to the US and Britain. An interesting angle that has emerged from all of this is Cambridge Analytica’s past involvement in Indian elections and their efforts to reach out to the two major political parties in the country, the BJP and the Congress, ahead of the 2019 general elections. And Facebook as a platform also faced some stick from Indian leaders and the Election Commission. Here's everything we learned from various news reports this week: Early reports about SCL's activities in India The Hindustan Times first reported that Cambridge Analytica, and its India partner, Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) Private Limited, have spoken to both the Congress and the BJP for a possible collaboration for their 2019 Lok Sabha election campaigns. Before the whole issue blew up in India's political circles, allegations did not deter the firm and its India partner from continuing to seek and promote various collaborations. OBI’s CEO Amrish Tyagi told HT on Monday that social…
