Quite a lot of press here for @chrisinsilico 
Chris’ lawyer is here and he’ll stick to public domain info by the sounds of things. @carolecadwalla has an essay crisis so presumably working on breaking the next story and not here
Chris describes how @carolecadwalla patience over months was key to him being comfortable to tell his story
Discussion of importance of collaborative journalism. Also fact that reporting on a tech story can be hard from an expertise perspective but is so important. @carolecadwalla was nitpicked by tech bros but persevered
Even having been deeply immersed in FB data, @chrisinsilico hadn’t realised how much his identity / online presence depended on it until he was kicked off
As the story was going to come out, @chrisinsilico was in touch with FB and they seemed to want to work together on their problems. Then they named him as a suspect instead.
Chris describes time researching what defined a (UK) libdem - demographics were not as clear a predictor as for labour or conservatives. Openness and disagreeableness important as no one born into libdem families, instead had to find it and reject existing mainstream ideas
Also clearly well-versed in military strategy, describing how the information field of battle has grown in importance with proliferation of data
Chris looked nervous at first but is enjoying this. He’s a compelling speaker. Haven’t yet got a sense of how he ended up working toward ends that seem so contrary to his worldview.
Describes Mercer being rich and the smartest guy in the room, made his money through machine learning so didn’t need it explained, and Bannon as brash & militant, then Nix along for the ride as the Etonian (with chip on shoulder for not getting into Cambridge)
Contrast with Clinton campaign -you can have the best data and modelling team but if you don’t ask the right questions and model the wrong thing then you don’t get where you need to be. “Drain the swamp” came from asking people in little pockets of US what needed to be asked.
Fascinating on the symbolism of the wall (from “Mauer im Kopf” re psychological impact of Berlin Wall), Bannon wanting USA to wall itself off symbolically (not physically) to rediscover itself and what “made America great”
Chris reveals himself as a Lexiteer. Talks about Europe not being part of his identity as someone living in Canada.
This in response to a question about him celebrating Brexit online when it happened. Challenges us to name our MEP and talks about democratic deficit.
Now questions. Can’t comment on Brexit (at the moment ... lots of hints that more revelations coming before Monday next week)
Chris doesn’t know, but describes reasons why v plausible that Russia have the data set (via Kogan)
Along with trying to find the right words to come out as in favour of Brexit, Chris' other most vulnerable moment was answering a difficult but important question on whether he can be considered a true whistleblower given his deep involvement in what happened. Video to follow.
Here @chrisinsilico challenged on redemption/whistleblowing Applauded after @peterjukes described courage in coming forward, especially after having been responsible for so much. /END of thread, special credit to @carolecadwalla for ongoing work on this
PS Whole discussion available here facebook.com/FrontlineClub/ in two parts
One more clip on data/algorithms and Russia
