Now over to Canadian parliament from British parliament to see how the AggregateIQ investigations are going after brexitbros ditch the end for a lunch appointment. And…we have a no-show.
Here’s livestream if you to jump in to Canadian parliament hearing with head of AIQ: parlvu.parl.gc.ca/XRender/en/Pow…
Appreciate this #ETHI committee’s probing on specific uses of Facebook Custom Audiences. AIQ claims it does no voter suppression and claims “disengagement targets” are to exclude them for list matching. Claims they don’t do psychographics, just use SCL’s scores from their data. 
AIQ’s Silvester asked about his ethical position on using psychological profiling for politics. Dodges that it was “new” but didn’t take a clear moral stand. Tech engineers thinking they are somehow amoral is at the heart of this crisis.
Dispute continues over whether AIQ was “franchise” of SCL and Wylie’s statements under oath. Asked if he has been “entirely cooperative” as he claimed, including with ICO, yet they asserted they are not subject to their jurisdiction and refused to answer Denham’s questions.
AIQ asked about Wylie’s “canary in the coalmine” statement on how digital exposes vulnerabilities in electoral processes. Silvester punts to Facebook and updating laws. Asked about data traversing across territorialities and if GDPR requires changing his biz practices.
AIQ asked if they new they might have been dealing “stolen goods” and he deflects that it’s responsibility if his clients to be lawful. Again, political adtech’s failure to adopt KYC Know Your Customer protocols like banking is ripe for abuse.
Silvester asked about Massingham (the no show) “grab the money” from Grimes of BeLeave to run a huge ad spend of £300K in a single day. Questions on illegal coordination and allegations of money laundering for Vote Leave thru AIQ.
Silvester getting hammered about whether he serves as a means to help evade data privacy jurisdictions. I mean if you’re going to work across democracies, you’re gonna have to field that concern.
AIQ asked how they determine the nuances between negative attack ads and misinformation/disinfo. Silvester dodges that it’s his client’s responsibility.
Silvester asked if he believes misappropriated data was used to create psychographic scores fed into RIPON. In hindsight, yes it seems likely.
In retrospect knowing what we know now, does he think he should’ve done more due diligence. Would he reconsider working with SCL given fallout? “Wouldn’t wish it on his enemies.” LOL
Asked if he knows caller ID spoofing is illegal in the US and data harvesting is illegal in the UK. Does he realize he’s aided and abetting a crime? “OK.” He admitted he did spoofing and harvesting. Reminded that he wrote to ICO that they not subject to her jurisdiction.
Silvester then equivocates about they don’t do harvesting…just build the tools. Keeps getting hammered about why he told Information Commissioner that her office has no jurisdiction.
Silvester urged to use his parliament privilege to come clean about illegal coordination. Jeff demurs and denies.
Asked about Breitbart/Orion tool for SCL for a pitch to Breitbart. Claims they didn’t move forward with the project. A client in US has two clients in US and one in Ukraine. (I think I may know they’re referring to.)
Stands to reason, what we know now…
In closing, chair impresses upon the failure of Massingham to attend today which moves committee closer to assessing holding him contempt and inadequate responses. Chair traces purloined data thru RIPON from Cruz to Bolton to Trump. /FIN
Stunning conclusion of #EHTI committee's hearing w/AIQ's chief Jeff Silvester. Facebook let SCL purloin data aided & abetted by AIQ's tools against UK DPA for Cruz, Bolton, Trump, (presumably back into Facebook w/Custom Audiences.) Bannon/Mercer are perps.
