JD(U) rejects allegations of using caste surveys provided by Cambridge Analytica

Christopher Wylie has claimed that SCL India (formerly Strategic Communication Laboratories, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica) was asked to provide electoral research and strategy for the 2010 Bihar elections for the JD(U).

The Janata Dal (United) rejected on Wednesday allegations that it had used caste analysis provided by Cambridge Analytica, accused of data breach, saying the party does not believe in using such means for electoral politics.

Canadian data analytics expert and whistleblower, Christopher Wylie poses for photographs outside a press conference in London on March 26, 2018. (AFP Photo)

The party’s reaction came after Christopher Wylie, who blew the lid off the alleged scam involving mining of Facebook user data to manipulate elections, tweeted details that claim to expose the British consultancy’s work in India dating back to 2003.

Wylie, 28, has claimed that SCL India (formerly Strategic Communication Laboratories, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica) was asked to provide electoral research and strategy for the 2010 Bihar elections for the JD (U).

But JD (U) leader KC Tyagi rejected the allegation, saying his party does not believe in using data for electoral politics.

“I have said this in the past. I repeat again that the JD (U) does not believe in such means. We fight elections the way it should be contested,” he said.