Cambridge Analytica pitched 'illegal offer targeting overseas donors' to Leave.EU

[muriel_volestrangler]

A controversial data marketing firm appeared to propose raising money from Brexit-supporting foreign donors on behalf of the Leave.EU campaign, in breach of UK election law.

Cambridge Analytica told the group fronted by Nigel Farage and Arron Banks they could target wealthy people from the US, Canada and Australia on behalf of the pro-Brexit campaign in November 2015, according to a pitch document released by a committee of MPs on Thursday.

Under the heading Target Fundraising, Cambridge Analytica told Leave.EU it could “design and execute a programme of donor solicitation amongst those individuals interested in Britain’s EU status. These could include corporate and individual targets in the United States, UK or other Commonwealth countries”.

Political parties and campaigns are only allowed to accept donations from British individuals, companies or other corporate bodies under election law. In any event, the suggestion was not taken up because Leave.EU did not end up employing Cambridge Analytica, a British company partly owned by rightwing US billionaire Robert Mercer and which worked on Donald Trump’s election campaign.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/mar/15/cambridge-analytica-illegal-foreign-donors-leave-eu-arron-banks

Since it wasn't put into practice, it seems, I suppose nothing will come from this revelation. But it shows what a sleazy company they are.

[tanyev]

1. Reminds me of the Trump campaign soliciting donations from lawmakers

in several foreign countries. At the time, I thought it was mostly evidence of extreme incompetence. Now I’m more inclined to think it’s evidence of their complete disdain and disregard for the law. And also plenty of incompetence.

[rzemanfl]

2. If we stop these f***ers and the history of this era is written.

Cambridge Analytica will be shown to be a key player in the targeting of individual voters in key battleground states.