Data and Trumping Democracy

Original Air Date: December 23, 2017
Data and Trumping Democracy - Episode 17

In this episode Beth and Kelly discuss the documentary "Trumping Democracy: Real Money, Fake News, Your Data."  In this boring, yet terrifying documentary (It's like doing your taxes!) it traces how reclusive billionaire Robert Mercer - and his gang of evil masterminds - Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, and David Bossie used Breitbart and another company controlled by Mercer - Cambridge Analytica - to find voters for Trump - and then target them with fake news by using "dark posts" on facebook.
Yes, this is all real.  Yes, it does seem like a plot from Scooby Doo, just minus the "pesky kids" that save the day.
I think I'd rather see some taxes here (maybe a certain Presidents...) but here are some photos of scary people instead.

Also - Cambridge Analytica is not shy about saying what they are doing.  Here are some photos.  The man photographed is the president of the company - in the middle photo he is standing in front of a large screen that says "The Power of Big Data and Psychographics in the Electoral Process".  They don't really hide what they are doing because it's literally so boring, no one pays attention.  Where is Daphne when you need her?

And those OCEAN tests they use to gather information?  Those are the "Which Disney Princess are you?" or "Which Game of Thrones of character are you?"  Seemingly benign games for fun - gather your data and tell them which personality you are - and what to target you with.  
Scooby?  Shaggy?  Anyone?  Is anyone going to pull the mask off of the bad guy here?

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Resources used:
Trumping Democracy Documentary - available on Netflix
What Are 'Facebook Dark Posts'? - Forbes
The Rise of the Weaponized AI Propaganda Machine- Scout
The Reclusive Hedge-Fund Tycoon Behind the Trump Presidency“ - The New Yorker
Trumping Democracy” — New Documentary Traces Trump’s Election Win -Huff Post

Other Research links:
Shedding Light on Facebook Dark Posts - Sprout Social
Donald Trump's file - Politifact​
Cambridge Analytica - Wikipedia
Data firm that worked for Trump asked WikiLeaks to share hacked emails - The Guardian
​Dark advertising - Wikipedia

A big welcome to Kelly for her first episode!  She promises that she will come back after Beth made her watch that documentary!  Thanks Kelly!

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