Cambridge Analytica shows regulation has failed

The alleged privacy abuses by Cambridge Analytica is just one example of a huge industry built on the collection of personal data, says a senior researcher at the University of Sydney Business School.

Dr Vince Mitchell said the situation is made possible by the failure of regulators, companies and individuals to adequately protect information.

Dr Mitchell, who is a Professor of Marketing, said that underpinning this industry is a carefully nurtured illusion that digital goods are made freely available when an app or internet user simply clicks ‘accept’.

“All the consumer does is press ‘accept’ and an entire data harvesting machinery does its work on the data subject in perpetuity with little or no knowledge or understanding of what will be done with the data or future opportunity to stop it,” said Professor Mitchell.

“The Cambridge Analytica case also highlights the fact that we are no longer responsible just for our own privacy but also the privacy of our friends and family members,” he said.

“Government regulatory systems have failed and so have consumers when it comes to regulating their own behaviour while companies have not adhered to their own privacy policies,” Professor Mitchell added.

Image credit: ©Nmedia/Dollar Photo Club

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