In major news from Google, the company announced on Wednesday that it will no longer save the complete record of searches made by new users.

For a long time, the company has been criticised for being hooded in terms of sharing what it does with user data. On the other hand, its rival Apple has managed a better and more privacy-oriented record on this front.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/apple-google-amazon-take-aim-at-trump-visa-ban-308029" hreflang="en">Apple, Google, Amazon take aim at Trump visa ban</a>

As per Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, all saved data of new users will be deleted 18 months after they join. Earlier, the information was stored on its servers forever, which the company claimed was done to improve user experience and to offer personalisation.

All information of people, even the ones who had opted to storing all of their history will now no longer be lodged into Google’s system forever, but instead will deleted after 18 months by default.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/google-extends-fact-checking-to-image-search-307990" hreflang="en">Google extends fact-checking to image search</a>

“As we design our products, we focus on three important principles: keeping your information safe, treating it responsibly, and putting you in control”, Pichai said.&nbsp;However, this auto-deletion system will not apply to Gmail and Google Photos, which are designed to store personal content.

Introduced as an option last year, the feature allows users to continue using its “smart” services, without the need to store the record of their web activity. However, people who already have a Google account, exactly 1.5 billion of them, need to manually turn enable the feature.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/technology/google-launches-experimental-app-keen-resembling-pinterest-307128" hreflang="en">Google launches experimental app 'Keen' resembling Pinterest</a>

Google already has, and is expected to roll out emails reminding users to complete a “privacy check-up”, which in essence is a confirmation from the company on whether users would like their data to be stored.

Google’s rival, Apple Inc follows a model which relies very little on private data. In its most recent OS release, Apple announced another useful feature with minimal dependence on user data, which will translate for users fully offline.&nbsp;Google’s new feature runs differently, for it will allow the company to gather data, but not indefinitely.

In major news from Google, the company announced on Wednesday that it will no longer save the complete record of searches made by new users. For a long time, the company has been criticised for being hooded in terms of sharing what it does with user data.

In major news from Google, the company announced on Wednesday that it will no longer save the complete record of searches made by new users. For a long time, the company has been criticised for being hooded in terms of sharing what it does with user data. On the other hand, its rival Apple has managed a better and more privacy-oriented record on this front. Also read: Apple, Google, Amazon take aim at Trump visa ban As per Chief Executive Sundar Pichai, all saved data of new users will be deleted 18 months after they join. Earlier, the information was stored on its servers forever, which the company claimed was done to improve user experience and to offer personalisation. All information of people, even the ones who had opted to storing all of their history will now no longer be lodged into Google’s system forever, but instead will deleted after 18 months by default. Also read: Google extends fact-checking to image search “As we design our products, we focus on three important principles: keeping your information safe, treating it responsibly, and putting you in control”, Pichai said. However, this auto-deletion system will not apply to Gmail and Google Photos, which are designed to store personal content. Introduced as an option last year, the feature allows users to continue using its “smart” services, without the need to store the record of their web activity. However, people who already have a Google account, exactly 1.5 billion of them, need to manually turn enable the feature. Also read: Google launches experimental app 'Keen' resembling Pinterest Google already has, and is expected to roll out emails reminding users to complete a “privacy check-up”, which in essence is a confirmation from the company on whether users would like their data to be stored. Google’s rival, Apple Inc follows a model which relies very little on private data. In its most recent OS release, Apple announced another useful feature with minimal dependence on user data, which will translate for users fully offline. Google’s new feature runs differently, for it will allow the company to gather data, but not indefinitely.

Google will no longer store user data 'indefinitely', will auto-delete after 18 months

Cambridge Analytica whistleblower told American media on Sunday that the data gathered from Facebook by UK based data mining firm could be stored in Russia.

While speaking to an American channel on a show, Christopher Wylie also said that a "lot of people" have access to the data.

Wylie reportedly said, "it could be stored in various parts of the world including Russia, given the fact that the professor who was was managing the data harvesting process was going back and forth between the UK to Russia".

Wylie during the interview also said that the user data obtained from 87 million users the number could be higher than what Facebook has claimed.

He further informed that he was contacted by authorities of US including the department of justice. He ensured his cooperation with them.

On the question of whether it could be known that how many people have access to this data, Wylie said that the data could have been copied several times after it left Facebook's database.

"I know that Facebook is now starting to take steps to rectify that and start to find out who had access to it and where it could have gone, but ultimately it's not watertight to say that we can ensure that all the data is gone forever," CNN quoted him as saying.

Cambridge Analytica came under fire along with social media platform Facebook after the reports that it gathered personal information of Facebook users with illegal measures.

He was referring to the Cambridge University professor Aleksander Kogan who is a Russian data scientist&nbspgathered data through apps and sold it to the company who used to it in assisting Donald Trump in 2016 presidential election.

Before Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the personal data of up to 87 million users was improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica news reports had stated that 50 million users were affected due to the breach.

The data breach was mostly in the United States.

Meanwhile, the company has denied the allegations of obtaining data through illegal ways and said that it acted in appropriate ways.

 
&nbsp

While speaking to an American channel on a show, Christopher Wylie also said that a 'lot of people' have access to the data

Cambridge Analytica whistleblower told American media on Sunday that the data gathered from Facebook by UK based data mining firm could be stored in Russia. While speaking to an American channel on a show, Christopher Wylie also said that a "lot of people" have access to the data. Wylie reportedly said, "it could be stored in various parts of the world including Russia, given the fact that the professor who was was managing the data harvesting process was going back and forth between the UK to Russia". Wylie during the interview also said that the user data obtained from 87 million users the number could be higher than what Facebook has claimed. He further informed that he was contacted by authorities of US including the department of justice. He ensured his cooperation with them. On the question of whether it could be known that how many people have access to this data, Wylie said that the data could have been copied several times after it left Facebook's database. "I know that Facebook is now starting to take steps to rectify that and start to find out who had access to it and where it could have gone, but ultimately it's not watertight to say that we can ensure that all the data is gone forever," CNN quoted him as saying. Cambridge Analytica came under fire along with social media platform Facebook after the reports that it gathered personal information of Facebook users with illegal measures. He was referring to the Cambridge University professor Aleksander Kogan who is a Russian data scientist&nbspgathered data through apps and sold it to the company who used to it in assisting Donald Trump in 2016 presidential election. Before Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed that the personal data of up to 87 million users was improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica news reports had stated that 50 million users were affected due to the breach. The data breach was mostly in the United States. Meanwhile, the company has denied the allegations of obtaining data through illegal ways and said that it acted in appropriate ways.

Facebook data breach row: Data may be stored in Russia says Christopher Wylie

Cambridge Analytica has&nbsp;become the media&#39;s centre of attention in the United States and Britain and on Wednesday it became infamous in India as well.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cambridge-analytica-facebook-row-indian-website-ovleno-currently-unavailable-36635"> Indian website &#39;Ovleno&#39; currently unavailable in Cambridge Analytica-Facebook </a>

The firm is now facing a government search of its London office, questions from US state authorities, and a demand by Facebook that it submit to a forensic audit.

Here is some of what is known about the company.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-mays-party-was-approached-by-cambridge-analytica-but-no-work-undertaken-spokesman-36644">Also read: UK PM May&#39;s party was approached by Cambridge Analytica, but no work undertaken says </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-mays-party-was-approached-by-cambridge-analytica-but-no-work-undertaken-spokesman-36644">Spokesman</a>

What is Cambridge Analytica and what do they do?

A branch of SCL group, Cambridge Analytica works on everything from security research to counter-narcotics to political campaigns.

According to the New York Times report, Cambridge Analytics -- created around 2013 -- was initially focused on US elections with $15 million in backing, from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon.

The news report further states that the company assisted Republican Senator Ted Cruz&#39;s presidential campaign before they assisted in Trump&#39;s 2016 campaign.

Cambridge Analytica markets itself as providing consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients.

Though the company&#39;s corporate clients have not listed&nbsp;on their site there two sections - CA commercial and political.

Under the CA political portfolio section names like Donald Trump campaign, Ted Cruz, Thom Tillis, Ben Carson etc were mentioned.

Britain&#39;s Channel 4 News reported on Monday, based on a secretly recorded video, that Cambridge Analytica secretly stage-managed Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta&#39;s campaigns in the hotly contested 2013 and 2017 elections.&nbsp;

However, the reports were denied by the Cambridge Analytica.

The company&#39;s website lists five office locations in New York, Washington, London, Brazil and Malaysia.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(8)-20180321040941.jpg" />
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Screengrab of the website of Cambridge Analytica. (Zee News Network)
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When did it first get attention?

The Company first got recognition after Trump won the 2016 presidential elections with the firm&#39;s help&nbsp;after the Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix reportedly went on to more clients to pitch his services.&nbsp;

The company boasted it could develop &quot;psychological profiles&quot;&nbsp;of consumers and voters which was a &quot;secret sauce&quot; it used to sway them more effectively than traditional advertising could.

Brad Parscale, who ran Trump&#39;s digital operations in 2016 though has refused to use Cambridge Analytica&#39;s data instead they relied on voter data from a Republican National Committee operation. 

What is it accused of?

The company is accused of illegally &quot;mining data&quot;&nbsp;of 50 million Facebook users that deceives both users and Facebook.

According to reports the data was harvested through an application developed by British academic Aleksandr Kogan.

According to a report by Reuters, some 270,000 people downloaded the application and logged in with their Facebook credentials, after which the application gathered their data and data about their friends&nbsp;which passed on to Cambridge Analytica by Kogan.

However, in a statement by Cambridge Analytica said that it did not initially know about Kogan violating Facebook&#39;s terms and they deleted the data once they found out in 2015.

But newspapers have reported that data has not been deleted. Cambridge Analytica has denied the allegations.

Reuters report quoted Facebook saying that it is investigating to verify the accuracy of the claim.

What happens next?

According to the Reuters report, Facebook has hired forensic auditors from the firms Stroz Friedberg for the audit and it is also pressurising Cambridge Analytica for further answers.

Facebook has further&nbsp;said that while they investigate&nbsp;it has suspended Cambridge Analytica, its parent SCL, Kogan and another man, Christopher Wylie, formerly of Cambridge Analytica, from its platform for violating Facebook rules.

Government authorities of USA and UK are also investigating the matter.

According to Reuters, the UK Information Commissioner&#39;s Office is pursuing a warrant to search Cambridge Analytica&#39;s office and asked Facebook&#39;s auditors to stand down in the meantime.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Cambridge Analytica is now facing a government search of its London office, questions from US state authorities, and a demand by Facebook that it submit to a forensic audit

Cambridge Analytica has become the media's centre of attention in the United States and Britain and on Wednesday it became infamous in India as well. Also read: Indian website 'Ovleno' currently unavailable in Cambridge Analytica-Facebook The firm is now facing a government search of its London office, questions from US state authorities, and a demand by Facebook that it submit to a forensic audit. Here is some of what is known about the company. Also read: UK PM May's party was approached by Cambridge Analytica, but no work undertaken says Spokesman What is Cambridge Analytica and what do they do? A branch of SCL group, Cambridge Analytica works on everything from security research to counter-narcotics to political campaigns. According to the New York Times report, Cambridge Analytics -- created around 2013 -- was initially focused on US elections with $15 million in backing, from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon. The news report further states that the company assisted Republican Senator Ted Cruz's presidential campaign before they assisted in Trump's 2016 campaign. Cambridge Analytica markets itself as providing consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients. Though the company's corporate clients have not listed on their site there two sections - CA commercial and political. Under the CA political portfolio section names like Donald Trump campaign, Ted Cruz, Thom Tillis, Ben Carson etc were mentioned. Britain's Channel 4 News reported on Monday, based on a secretly recorded video, that Cambridge Analytica secretly stage-managed Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta's campaigns in the hotly contested 2013 and 2017 elections. However, the reports were denied by the Cambridge Analytica. The company's website lists five office locations in New York, Washington, London, Brazil and Malaysia. Screengrab of the website of Cambridge Analytica. (Zee News Network) × When did it first get attention? The Company first got recognition after Trump won the 2016 presidential elections with the firm's help after the Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix reportedly went on to more clients to pitch his services. The company boasted it could develop "psychological profiles" of consumers and voters which was a "secret sauce" it used to sway them more effectively than traditional advertising could. Brad Parscale, who ran Trump's digital operations in 2016 though has refused to use Cambridge Analytica's data instead they relied on voter data from a Republican National Committee operation. What is it accused of? The company is accused of illegally "mining data" of 50 million Facebook users that deceives both users and Facebook. According to reports the data was harvested through an application developed by British academic Aleksandr Kogan. According to a report by Reuters, some 270,000 people downloaded the application and logged in with their Facebook credentials, after which the application gathered their data and data about their friends which passed on to Cambridge Analytica by Kogan. However, in a statement by Cambridge Analytica said that it did not initially know about Kogan violating Facebook's terms and they deleted the data once they found out in 2015. But newspapers have reported that data has not been deleted. Cambridge Analytica has denied the allegations. Reuters report quoted Facebook saying that it is investigating to verify the accuracy of the claim. What happens next? According to the Reuters report, Facebook has hired forensic auditors from the firms Stroz Friedberg for the audit and it is also pressurising Cambridge Analytica for further answers. Facebook has further said that while they investigate it has suspended Cambridge Analytica, its parent SCL, Kogan and another man, Christopher Wylie, formerly of Cambridge Analytica, from its platform for violating Facebook rules. Government authorities of USA and UK are also investigating the matter. According to Reuters, the UK Information Commissioner's Office is pursuing a warrant to search Cambridge Analytica's office and asked Facebook's auditors to stand down in the meantime. (With inputs from Reuters)

Everything you want to know about Cambridge Analytica

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