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Fact check

Is it true: Meta/Facebook knowledge of Cambridge Analytica before Mar 2018 (2015-18)?

Partially True3% confidence

Partly — it's more complicated than the claim suggests.

Facebook's December 2015 knowledge of the Kogan data harvest and its non-disclosure to users is supported by internal documents and the FTC investigation. The $5B FTC settlement (Jul 2019) and $100M SEC fine confirm regulatory findings of misconduct. Wylie whistleblower (17 Mar 2018) confirmed data was not deleted as certified. The claim of deliberate senior-executive cover-up (vs institutional negligence) is partially supported but not fully established.

The claim

Facebook discovered in December 2015 that Aleksandr Kogan's 'thisisyourdigitallife' app had harvested data from approximately 87 million users and transferred it to SCL Group/Cambridge Analytica. Face

Key evidence

Facebook internal documents: Dec 2015 knowledge confirmed

Zuckerberg Senate testimony acknowledged inadequate developer policing

Read the full evidence file

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