Data Privacy Scandal That Shocked the Digital World

The Cambridge Analytica scandal, revealed in 2018, exposed how personal data could be harvested and exploited on a massive scale. Through a personality quiz app on Facebook, the company illegally obtained data from nearly 87 million users, including their interests, relationships, and online behavior patterns. This information was then used to build psychological profiles capable of influencing public opinion and political campaigns.

The revelation sparked global outrage. Governments demanded explanations from Facebook, regulators launched investigations, and the public questioned how safely their personal data was being handled. The scandal demonstrated how social media platforms had grown into vast data-collection machines, often without users fully understanding the consequences.

Cambridge Analytica became a symbol of the dangers of unregulated data harvesting. It pushed nations to reconsider digital rights, enforce stricter privacy laws, and hold tech giants accountable for their practices. The event marked a turning point in how the world views data privacy and digital surveillance.