Mindf*ck: Cambridge Analytica and the Plot to Break America

by Christopher Wylie

Cambridge Analytica was merely a front-facing brand for American clients that was entirely staffed by SCL personnel.) “SCL retains a number of retired intelligence and security agency officers from Israel, USA, UK, Spain & Russia each with extensive technical and analytical experience,” the memo read. “Our experience shows that in many cases utilizing social media or ‘foreign’ publications to ‘expose’ an opponent is often more effectual than using potentially biased local media channels.” The memo discussed “infiltrating” opposition campaigns using “intelligence nets” to obtain “damaging information” and creating scaled networks of “Facebook and Twitter accounts to build credibility and cultivate followers.” For many of SCL’s clients, this was a standard offer—private espionage, stings, bribes, extortion, infiltrations, honey traps, and disinformation spread through fake accounts on social media. For the right price, SCL was willing to do whatever it took to win an election. And now, armed with even more extensive data sets and AI capabilities, and millions invested, the newly formed Cambridge Analytica was looking to take this further.