Cook County sues Facebook, Cambridge Analytica after alleged misuse of millions of Illinoisans' data

[Tatiana]

Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by President Donald Trump’s campaign, deceived the millions of Illinois Facebook users whose information it collected, alleges the lawsuit, filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court. And Facebook failed to protect its users’ privacy and misrepresented how their data would be used, the lawsuit says.

<snip>

“Cambridge Analytica deliberately misled Facebook users so it could build psychological profiles of the user and their friends, and Facebook did not stop it,” she said. “This blatant deception violated Illinois law and more importantly violated the privacy of Illinois residents.”

Cook County is being represented by Chicago law firm Edelson, which has brought privacy suits against Facebook and other tech companies, including Google and Netflix.

Cambridge Analytica has previously denied any wrongdoing and suspended its CEO, Alexander Nix. The app developer, Cambridge University researcher Aleksandr Kogan, who is not named in the Cook County suit, told the BBC last week that he didn’t know the data would be used for Trump’s election campaign and that Cambridge Analytica is using him as a scapegoat.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-cook-county-sues-facebook-20180326-story.html

I hope more states and governmental entities follow suit!

[Girard442]

1. Legal actions by states against the bad actors may cut the Trumpian Knot.

It's not like Session's Justice Department is going to do a lot.

[triron]

8. fuck, all supporters of Hillary for president should file a class action suit.

They have been disenfranchised.

[Leghorn21]

2. Zuckerberg is having a deeply shitty day, T!! Thanks for posting!! Meanwhile, this morning,

AGs from almost FORTY states are putting the pressure on Facebook:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/group-ags-answers-facebook-regulators-swoop-article-1.3896822


Cha ching!!

[IluvPitties]

5. Go to hell, Zucker!

[Tatiana]

6. This is so awesome!

I see even that wingnut DeWine signed the letter.

https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-03-26-Letter-to-Facebook.pdf

[Tatiana]

3. FIVE lawsuits have been filed so far in CA; two are seeking class-action status!

At least five lawsuits have been filed in federal court in Northern California over the alleged misuse of user data. Those include a suit from a Facebook shareholder who is seeking class-action status, claiming he and other company shareholders have suffered losses and damages since the Cambridge Analytica news was first reported, and another from a woman seeking class-action status over Facebook and Cambridge Analytica’s alleged improper data collection.

Our court system is one of our last institutions not completely tainted by Russian operatives. Many Republican judges still remember what it is to do what is right and deliver justice. This is one way in which we can try to take down these entities. I hope to see some New Yorkers suing, as well.

[jberryhill]

4. Illinoisans?

I thought the correct demonym was Illinoyances.

[triron]

7. Boy hope this catches on!