Seven hour raid takes place at Cambridge Analytica following Facebook data breach

Enforcement officers for the Information Commissioner spent nearly seven hours searching Cambridge Analytica's central London premises overnight.

Seven hour raid takes place at Cambridge Analytica following Facebook data breach

Enforcement officers for the Information Commissioner spent nearly seven hours searching Cambridge Analytica's central London premises overnight.

After entering the building in New Oxford Street at 8pm on Friday, some of the team emerged on foot at around 2.50am on Saturday morning as a van, thought to be carrying evidence, left via a rear exit.

Earlier the investigators could be seen examining documents and taking photographs of a whiteboard and of computers.

A group of 18 people, some wearing ICO enforcement jackets, had arrived at the building less than an hour after a High Court judge granted the search warrant sought by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Elizabeth Denham, the Information Commissioner, requested access to records and data in the company's hands amid claims that Facebook user information may have been illegally acquired and used for political campaigns.

Both Cambridge Analytica (CA) and Facebook deny any wrongdoing.

The data watchdog's investigation includes the acquisition and use of Facebook data by CA, its parent company SCL and academic Dr Aleksandr Kogan, who developed the app used to gather data.

It stems from claims over the harvesting of personal data - and whether it was used during Donald Trump's US presidential campaign or the Brexit referendum.

CA's chief executive Alexander Nix has been suspended, while Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been called on to give evidence to MPs.

Ms Denham had announced her intentions to gain a warrant to enter the offices on Monday, however it was granted just after 7pm on Friday.

The commissioner said she wanted to access the firm's servers in order to investigate the use of personal data in political campaigns.

The ICO had tweeted that the operation was "just one part of a larger investigation into the use of personal data for political purposes and we will now need time to collect and consider the evidence".

Judge Leonard QC said he would give the reasons for his decision on Tuesday.

The ICO is responsible for regulating compliance with the Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Ms Denham said: "We need to get in there. We need to take a look at the databases, we need to look at the servers and understand how data was processed or deleted by Cambridge Analytica."

- PA

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

France asks for foreign help with massive Paris Olympics security challenge France asks for foreign help with massive Paris Olympics security challenge
Biden ‘working to secure release of Wall Street Journal reporter held in Russia’ Biden ‘working to secure release of Wall Street Journal reporter held in Russia’
Bodies of Easter pilgrims still inside bus that crashed off South African bridge Bodies of Easter pilgrims still inside bus that crashed off South African bridge
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited