Nigeria’s former president Goodluck Jonathan was “not aware” of any
attempts by political consultancy Cambridge Analytica to interfere in
elections in 2007 and 2015, his spokesman said on Thursday.
attempts by political consultancy Cambridge Analytica to interfere in
elections in 2007 and 2015, his spokesman said on Thursday.
The
UK-based political consultancy is facing allegations that it improperly
accessed data from social media website Facebook to target voters prior
to the U.S. presidential election and Britain’s Brexit referendum in
2016.
UK-based political consultancy is facing allegations that it improperly
accessed data from social media website Facebook to target voters prior
to the U.S. presidential election and Britain’s Brexit referendum in
2016.
In Nigeria, a government committee is looking into claims
that SCL Elections, a Cambridge Analytica affiliate, organised rallies
to dissuade opposition supporters from voting against Jonathan’s
then-ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.
that SCL Elections, a Cambridge Analytica affiliate, organised rallies
to dissuade opposition supporters from voting against Jonathan’s
then-ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.
“Goodluck
Jonathan was not aware of such attempts, if there were any,” said the
ex-leader’s spokesman Ikechukwu Eze in a statement.
Jonathan was not aware of such attempts, if there were any,” said the
ex-leader’s spokesman Ikechukwu Eze in a statement.
“The whistle blower who originated the allegation has been consistent in
associating it to an unnamed businessman, who was neither linked to the
party nor to the Jonathan campaign,” Eze said.
associating it to an unnamed businessman, who was neither linked to the
party nor to the Jonathan campaign,” Eze said.
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The government
investigation announced on Monday will also look into whether Cambridge
Analytica’s work for the election campaigns of the PDP broke Nigerian
law “or infringed on the rights of other parties and their candidates”.
investigation announced on Monday will also look into whether Cambridge
Analytica’s work for the election campaigns of the PDP broke Nigerian
law “or infringed on the rights of other parties and their candidates”.
PDP
candidate Umaru Yar’Adua won the 2007 presidential ballot. He died in
office in 2010 and was succeeded by his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan.
candidate Umaru Yar’Adua won the 2007 presidential ballot. He died in
office in 2010 and was succeeded by his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan.
Unlike
in Europe and the United States, where data-privacy laws provide a
level of protection to consumers, many Africans have little or no
recourse if a data breach occurs because often legal and regulatory
safeguards do not exist. (Reuters)
in Europe and the United States, where data-privacy laws provide a
level of protection to consumers, many Africans have little or no
recourse if a data breach occurs because often legal and regulatory
safeguards do not exist. (Reuters)
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