By Ben Kerrigan-
Alexander Nix, Former chief executive of Cambridge Analytica, Alexander Nix was a walking embarrassment, as he admitted his words were foolish. Nix was labelled a liar as an MP accused him of telling a ”pack of lies” and another accused Nix of rudeness. Nix was in a painful defence mode as he faced Mps on Tuesday to answer questions for the second time about the data firm’s operations and the processing of an alleged 87m facebook users details without their consent.
In more than three hours of evidence to the UK’s parliamentary select committee for digital, culture, media and sport, Mr Nix was questioned about the liquidated data firm’s ethics, the massive privacy breaches from Facebook, and worse, allegations he withdrew $8m from the company before it lost its business footing. Mr Nix has been under fire ever since the news that under Cambridge Analytica, he harvested the data of tens of millions of Facebook users for political campaigns.
A Channel 4 undercover documentary in March featuring Mr Nix suggesting he could entrap the clients opponents through the offering of bribes was a big shot to himself in the foot. He has been caught out, but he has to deny it. At least there is no way he can admit any allegations that can’t be proven. He has too much too loose, but has nearly lost all of his dignity, unless he can provide all the answers to every question asked.
Mr Nix had originally denied to the committee during questioning in February that he had not received information from a Facebook app designed by Aleksandr Kogan, a renowned academic from Cambridge University. Back then, he said “we do not work with Facebook data, and we do not have Facebook data”. His tune changed after allegations were published in the Observer from a former employee-turned-whistle blower Christopher Wylie became a whistle blower after leaving the firm, and revealed that the company had processed the information of up to 87m Facebook users, through the app in question.
In a doomed attempt to defend himself, Nix said his response had been the product of a ”genuine misunderstanding,“ because of an interruption by the Committee’s chairman, Damian Collins. Clearly, I accept that some of my answers could have been clearer but I assure you that I didn’t intend to mislead you,” he said on Wednesday. He said his answer at the time was a “genuine misunderstanding” because he had been interrupted by the committee’s chairman Damian Collins. Dixon didn’t explain why an interruption would cause him to say something he didn’t mean. Nixon was failing in his efforts to cope with the questioning.
Mr Nix fought back allegations that he withdrew over $8m from shortly before it collapsed. On the one hand, he branded the allegations false, but on the other hand, did not confirm or deny whether he withdrew any money himself. The claim had been made in the report by The Financial Times that Mr Nix was in a stand-off with investors over the alleged withdrawal, according to several people involved in the The paper reported that mr. Nix made the withdrawal after he learnt the British media were reporting about allegations about his company’s use of Facebook data in political campaigns.
EMBARASSING
Rather than provide the more expected professional response that he took no money from the account, or say how much he took, Alexander Nix instead insisted: “The allegation made in that article is false, the facts in that article are not correct.” He added: “After this media storm I have personally invested millions of dollars to meet staff payments, staff salaries and staff bonuses.” When questioned whether he withdrew any money from the company, he declined to comment. Instead, he evaded the question by saying:
“I only saw [the article] briefly before coming to the committee meeting and haven’t had a chance to consider it with my counsel,” he said. He has since declined to respond to questions from reporters over the specific question of how much he withdrew from the firm. However, Mps grilled him hard. Labour MP, Ian Lucas pushed for accurate answers . He said:“Facts, Mr Nix — not rumours — facts is what we are presenting you with. What we’re getting back is bluster and rudeness,” said Ian Lucas.
It was am embarrassing grilling for the MP, whose reputation is under serious fire over the scandal.
“Surely you can see that you’re not the victim here,” said Brendan O’Hara, an SNP member of parliament. “According to you everything we’ve heard about Cambridge Analytica is wrong, but everything you say is a pack of lies.” Mr Nix responded by describing the claim as “absolutely ridiculous”.
Mr Nix said on Wednesday: “I hope over time I will be judged by my actions, not my words. Clearly my words were foolish.” He added: “Let’s be categorical — we have never undertaken any work that uses a honeytrap or the use of a sex scandal for political leverage or a political campaign.”
Well, let us be categorical. Most of your actions and defence were as foolish as your words.