Data Ethics Crisis: Cambridge Analytica Scandal Erupts

In March 2018, multiple media outlets revealed how Cambridge Analytica improperly harvested personal data from millions of Facebook (Meta) users without consent, utilizing it for political advertising and voter targeting. The incident instantly sparked a global debate about the data handling ethics of technology companies, data privacy, and the role of social media in democratic processes.

The scandal dealt a massive blow to Facebook's reputation and accelerated the scrutiny and regulation of data collection practices by major technology companies worldwide, profoundly influencing how digital platforms operate in the Future World.