Twitter also sold data to Cambridge Analytica researcher
London, April 30: After the Facebook data scandal, it has now come to notice that Twitter had also sold users' data to a Cambridge Analytica researcher who gathered the data of nearly 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
According to the report, Twitter sold public data access in 2015 to Aleksandr Kogan, then a psychology researcher with University of Cambridge and his company Global Science Research (GSR).
The quiz app "thisisyourdigitallife" developed by Kogan and his firm, collected data from millions of Facebook users without their consent in 2014-2015.
"GSR paid for one day of access in 2015, Twitter said, and scooped up a 'random sample' of public tweets covering a period between December 2014 and April 2015. Twitter added that it 'did not find any access' to private information," the report noted.
Kogan reportedly said the Twitter data had only been used to create "brand reports" and "survey extender tools" and that he had not violated Twitter's policies.
"The most immediate concern is that GSR could theoretically have correlated Facebook and Twitter data. Still, this shows just how comprehensive the data collection was," Engadget reported.
Twitter, however, said it had banned GSR and Cambridge Analytica from buying data or running adverts on the website and that no private data had been accessed.
"Twitter has also made the policy decision to off-board advertising from all accounts owned and operated by Cambridge Analytica.
"This decision is based on our determination that Cambridge Analytica operates using a business model that inherently conflicts with acceptable Twitter Ads business practices," The Telegraph reported, citing a Twitter spokesperson.
In a first interview after the Facebook data scandal broke out, Kogan told CBS News earlier this month that he was not sure whether he ever read Facebook's developer policy.
"The idea that we stole the data, I think, is technically incorrect. I mean, they created these great tools for developers to collect the data.
"And they made it very easy. I mean, this was not a hack. This was, 'Here's the door. It's open. We're giving away the groceries. Please collect them'," Kogan told the TV show host.
Kogan said he believes his assumptions were misguided and that what he did in 2014 "was not right and was not wise".
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Cong leader Gowda, arrested for ''abusing'' official, sent to14 days'' judicial custody
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress leader Rajeev Gowda, arrested for "abusing and threatening" Shidlaghatta City Municipal Council Commissioner Amrutha Gowda, was sent to 4 days judicial custody on Tuesday.
Rajeev Gowda was on the run after police registered a case of intimidation and abusing a government officer and interrupting government work. He was arrested from Kerala on Monday.
The accused was produced before the Shidlaghatta Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) on Tuesday. The Court ordered his 14 days' judicial custody.
Rajeev Gowda had threatened Amrutha Gowda with dire consequences and used expletives against her over the phone on January 12 for removing a banner with his photo from a busy junction in Shidlaghatta town.
Since the banners were life threatening for the commuters, Amrutha Gowda ordered it removal, which enraged Rajeev Gowda.
Pained by the incident, Amrutha narrated her ordeal with the media and also made the telephonic conversation public on January 14.
The entire town, including the Municipal employees and officers, came in support of the commissioner and took out a march in the town and staged a sit-in demonstration.
The opposition BJP and JD(S) slammed the government for the incident.
Based on Amrutha Gowda's complaint, police registered an FIR against Rajeev Gowda.
Rajeev Gowda had unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Assembly election from Shidlaghatta segment on the Congress ticket.
