Cambridge Analytica, the Mercers, Bannon, Facebook and fake news

[BadgerMom]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/26/robert-mercer-breitbart-war-on-media-steve-bannon-donald-trump-nigel-farage?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

A couple of days ago I posted an OP entitled "Good-bye, Facebook." One reason I cited for my exit from the social network was Facebook's role in the use of metrics to microtarget political action. (I did not phrase it that way in the OP.) Among the comments were some asking how Cambridge Analytica used those metrics. I owned up to the fact that I had read about this but could not clearly explain it myself. Well, The Guardian did lots of explaining today. I sincerely hope this link works and doesn't present a paywall. I subscribe, but I discovered the link via my Twitter feed.

This is a chilling piece. It feeds my agitá. The extent of the compromise of our information on the internet, specifically on social network sites, is enormous. This is a long read, but extremely important. I hope you read it and react. I look forward to your views.

[Docreed2003]

1. K&R for agita (for some reason my phone is dropping the accent) What a great way of describing this

[BadgerMom]

4. Ooh!

Maybe it's "ágita."

[Docreed2003]

5. For some reason on my phone...

Accent marks of any type get dropped in the reply title when I submit...i.e. über. Not sure why. I think you were correct the first time on the spelling.

[KittyWampus]

2. And you were told that Facebook changed it's settings. There's nothing "chilling" about marketing.

Except a lot of DU'ers seem to think #1. they are immune to it #2. that's it's a bad thing.

Don't want to help the process then don't do quizzes on the internet. That'll be a start.

But there's still a ton of information about you being traded.

Democrats needs to learn how to use data mining too.

Mayor Pete had something in his resume indicating he understood the concept... so I can only hope that Perez and Ellison understand the new marketing techniques and get moving on finding a secure company to start utilizing them.

[BadgerMom]

6. Quizzes are the worst

but I believe even "likes" and sharing are trackable. That was my impression from the Guardian piece. Information isn't inherently bad, but who's gathering and to what end are of concern.

And, yes, to Dems responding. PBO may have met with a Democratic funding guy during his NYC trip. I hope that under discussion were means to counter this.

[lostnfound]

10. I'd like to see Tom Perez or Keith or Bernie or Chuck show they grasp the issue fully

There's been silence on this from the D's. And it ties in perfectly with the media issues -- targeted marketing has grown to the extent of being a bubble of a cult that is making your conservative cousins and neighbors become more entrenched and less informed.

[EarthFirst]

3. I wonder where the Cambridge Analytica trails intersect in regards to Calexit

I guess one would really only have to research the ties Bannon has to Russian Calexit leader, Louis Marinelli to find these answers.

What a tangled web this is.

A great read, my friend. This has my mind racing in several directions attempting to process the implications and shadows that haven't been exposed yet.

Thanks.

[trof]

7. A must read.

[lostnfound]

8. I'm going to recommend every OP on this subject

Everyone needs to read this article and understand.
Understand ALL of the ramifications.
Including the millions of bots -- and what they could be used for, AFTER the election.
Democrats need to start "deconstructing" this funhouse of mirrors or democracy is dead, and potentially our economy too.

[BadgerMom]

9. I agree

Are there other OPs?

[BSdetect]

11. We are in the crazy house at the carnival

Mercer is an extremist who will go to any length to destroy workers / democracy.

America has long suffered anti-union, anti-socialist propaganda fueled by pseudo patriotic BS.

Flag waving and anthem chanting taken to extremes. And millions fed through the military complex.

Gun loving idiots paranoid with fear and hatred.

Eisenhower was spot on re the MI Complex.

Now scrotus wants more military spending.

Rapacious capitalism unchecked.

[Tanuki]

12. Kicking for exposure.....