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Deep Dive: The Great Hack (2019)

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The Great Hack
The Great Hack is a documentary that investigates the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal. It features key figures such as David Carroll, Brittany Kaiser, and Carole Cadwalladr, whose narratives intertwine to reveal the impact of Cambridge Analytica's data practices on political events like the Brexit campaign and the 2016 US elections. The film presents a detailed account of how the company utilized Facebook for political-voter surveillance, raising questions about privacy and the ethics of data collection. The documentary also examines the origins of Cambridge Analytica, which was formed as a subsidiary of the SCL Group in 2012. The film discusses the company's strategies in manipulating voter behavior through data mining and targeted advertising, leading to significant disruptions in political landscapes. It shows the wider effects of social media's role in elections and the potential consequences for future democratic processes.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Brittany Kaiser, former director at Cambridge Analytica.
  • •Find out how Facebook data was used in the 2016 US elections.
  • •See the impact of data mining on the Brexit campaign.

Did You Know

•Cambridge Analytica was formed in 2012 as a subsidiary of the SCL Group.
•The scandal was first reported by The Guardian in December 2015.
•The film was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
•The Great Hack premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

Perfect For

Political data analysisSocial media ethicsElection interference