Mindf*ck: Inside Cambridge Analytica's Plot to Break the World

In 2016, Cambridge Analytica used psychological research and private Facebook data to create an invisible weapon with the power to change what voters perceived as real. This weapon was used to launch Steve Bannon's ideological assault on America, but 24-year-old research director Christopher Wylie began to see what he and his colleagues were unleashing. When Britain voted to leave the EU, Wylie realized it was time to expose his old associates, exposing the political crime of the century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 02 July 2020
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

What if you could peer into the minds of an entire population? What if you could target the weakest with rumors that only they saw?

In 2016, an obscure British military contractor turned the world upside down. Funded by a billionaire on a crusade to start his own far-right insurgency, Cambridge Analytica combined psychological research with private Facebook data to make an invisible weapon with the power to change what voters perceived as real.

The firm was created to launch the then unknown Steve Bannon's ideological assault on America. But as it honed its dark arts in elections from Trinidad to Nigeria, 24-year-old research director Christopher Wylie began to see what he and his colleagues were unleashing.

He had heard the disturbing visions of the investors. He saw what CEO Alexander Nix did behind closed doors. When Britain shocked the world by voting to leave the EU, Wylie realized it was time to expose his old associates. The political crime of the century had just taken place - the weapon had been tested - and nobody knew.

Cambridge Analytica, a British political consulting firm, used data from Facebook to manipulate public opinion during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The firm's founder, Alexander Nix, is a former British intelligence officer who worked for the government's secret service.

The firm's methods included targeting specific individuals with personalized ads based on their psychological profiles. They also used data from other social media platforms to create a "psychographic map" of American voters.

The firm's work was controversial, and it was accused of using unethical and illegal methods to influence the election. In 2018, Facebook announced that it had banned Cambridge Analytica from using its data.

The scandal has raised concerns about the role of technology in politics and the potential for it to be used to manipulate public opinion. It has also led to calls for greater regulation of the digital advertising industry.

In conclusion, Cambridge Analytica's use of data from Facebook to manipulate public opinion during the 2016 U.S. presidential election was a controversial and unethical practice. The firm's methods raised concerns about the role of technology in politics and the potential for it to be used to manipulate public opinion. The scandal has led to calls for greater regulation of the digital advertising industry and has raised important questions about the role of technology in shaping our political discourse.

Weight: 236g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788165006
Edition number: Main