The highly networked nature of the Facebook platform, combined with the data that the company collects meant that even fairly simple machine learning algorithms could be used to craft highly customized political messages. The bigger problem is that if the Facebook information of a few thousand people gets leaked, it enables the creation of elaborate profiles of a much larger number of people—even if they are actually not on Facebook. (Note that even if these users aren’t on Facebook, their contact information is available.) Deleting Facebook can help in a limited way—in that you’ll stop giving out new information based on your likes, and you won’t receive campaign material through Facebook. However, since the Facebook app collects contact information (and reportedly even call and SMS records), these campaigns are going to hit you anyway.

Source: Mint March 28, 2018 23:48 UTC