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The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal: A Case Study in Ethical AI Failures and Data Privacy Violations
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Responsible AI
DOI: 10.64388/IREV9I4-1711588-7074
Abstract
The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal represents one of the most significant breaches of data privacy and ethical standards in the digital age. This case study examines how Cambridge Analytica harvested personal data from approximately 87 million Facebook users without explicit consent to create psychological profiles for political micro-targeting. The analysis identifies violations of fundamental ethical AI principles including informed consent, transparency, data minimization, and accountability. Through examination of the incident's mechanisms, impacts, and regulatory responses, this paper proposes comprehensive mitigation strategies encompassing technical safeguards, regulatory frameworks, and organizational governance structures.
Keywords
Data Privacy, Ethical AI, Informed Consent, Psychographic Profiling, Algorithmic Accountability
References
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[3] Confessore, N. (2018, April 4). Cambridge Analytica and Facebook: The scandal and the fallout so far. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/04/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-scandal-fallout.html
[4] Dwork, C., & Roth, A. (2014). The algorithmic foundations of differential privacy. Foundations and Trends in Theoretical Computer Science, 9(3-4), 211-407. https://doi.org/10.1561/0400000042
[5] European Commission. (2018). 2018 reform of EU data protection rules. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/justice-and-fundamental-rights/data-protection/2018-reform-eu-data-protection-rules_en
[6] European Parliament. (2018, March 28). Facebook-Cambridge Analytica: MEPs demand action to protect citizens' privacy [Press release]. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180323IPR00523
[7] Reisman, D., Schultz, J., Crawford, K., & Whittaker, M. (2018). Algorithmic impact assessments: A practical framework for public agency accountability. AI Now Institute. https://ainowinstitute.org/aiareport2018.pdf
[8] Rosenberg, M., Confessore, N., & Cadwalladr, C. (2018, March 17). How Trump consultants exploited the Facebook data of millions. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/us/politics/cambridge-analytica-trump-campaign.html
[9] Wong, J. C. (2019, March 21). The Cambridge Analytica scandal changed the world – but it didn't change Facebook. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/mar/17/the-cambridge-analytica-scandal-changed-the-world-but-it-didnt-change-facebook
[10] Zuboff, S. (2019). The age of surveillance capitalism: The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. PublicAffairs.
How to cite this paper
@article{1711588,
author = {Agnishwar Raychaudhuri},
title = {The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal: A Case Study in Ethical AI Failures and Data Privacy Violations},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2025},
volume = {9},
number = {4},
pages = {1531-1535},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1711588.pdf},
abstract = {The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal represents one of the most significant breaches of data privacy and ethical standards in the digital age. This case study examines how Cambridge Analytica harvested personal data from approximately 87 million Facebook users without explicit consent to create psychological profiles for political micro-targeting. The analysis identifies violations of fundamental ethical AI principles including informed consent, transparency, data minimization, and accountability. Through examination of the incident's mechanisms, impacts, and regulatory responses, this paper proposes comprehensive mitigation strategies encompassing technical safeguards, regulatory frameworks, and organizational governance structures.},
keywords = {Data Privacy, Ethical AI, Informed Consent, Psychographic Profiling, Algorithmic Accountability},
month = {October},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I4-1711588-7074}
}