Malice Domestic: The Cambridge Analytica Dystopia (5/18)

What was the name of the Facebook app that Aleksandr Kogan created that harvested personal information from participants who thought they were taking a personality test?

The "thisisyourdigitallife" app.

Give three examples of devious methods to subvert the public's electoral preference in past elections that were presented in the article.

1. Gerrymandering

2. Opponent confusion campaign

3. Whisper campaigns against opponents

List three examples of how political machinery may manipulate voting that were mentioned

1. Gerrymandering

2. Closed primaries that tend to favor strong partisanship

3. Mico-targeting of the most malleable voters

Which one of the answers to iii, above, were used by Cambridge Analytica?

Micro-targeting

In her bestseller Weapons of Math Destruction, Cathy O'Neil criticized big data analyticians for concealing what?

Human prejudices, biases, and agendas.

O'Neil claims that flawed data analysis contributes to a serious problem. What is it?

Over reliance on and misuse of data analysis.

Bolsover and Howard observe that computational propaganda has changed the landscape in what three ways?

1. Removal of geographic barriers puts international proganda in the hands of everyone.

2. Anonymity obscures the sources and subverts attempts to verify.

3. Automation adds incredible efficiency to misinformation messaing.

Both O'Neil and Bolsover/Howard agree that the heart of the problem with computational propaganda is what?

The corruption or misuse of big data.

How does the author of the article define computational propaganda?

The use of digital media and other online resources to promote propaganda that is both efficient and unnoticed.

What is the difference in emphasis between advertising 100 years ago and today?

One hundred years ago, they focused on product quality, while today focuses on life-style compatibility and self-image.

Who are the real customers of free online services?

Advertisers and marketers.

Several dozen elements of object-level data routinely collected by integrated marketing companies and online platforms were discussed in the lectures. Name 5 of them.

1. Personal data from social media

2. Info on voters during elections

3. Data from scams and online quizzes

4. Data from emails

5. Data from online shopping sites