The Cambridge Analytica scandal is drawing attention to malicious data thieves and brokers. But every Facebook app—even the dumb, innocent ones—collected users’ personal data without even trying.

Downloaded my facebook data as a ZIP file Somehow it has my entire call history with my partner's mum

I'm going to assume that you weren't living in an internet-proof cave this weekend, and caught at least some of the stories about Cambridge Analytica and Facebook. The news first kicked off with the announcement of a data protection lawsuit...

Alexander Nix, the CEO of Cambridge Analytica, claimed they used proxies in the U.S. to influence the 2016 election.

Facebook bought his app for $16 billion

It’s true that the Cambridge Analytica incident wasn’t a security breach. It was something far worse.

Sandy Parakilas says numerous companies deployed these techniques – likely affecting hundreds of millions of users – and that Facebook looked the other way

The social network was said to have reached a deal with the executive to depart after disagreements over how to address its role in spreading disinformation.

It is easy to be misled into believing that the Cambridge Analytica story is about rogue data miners taking advantage of an innocent Facebook. Facebook’s decision to suspend Cambridge Analytica’s access, the use of terms like “data breach”, and a good deal of coverage in the media seems to follow these lines. That, however, misses the key point.

It could get blocked if it refuses

Facebook is using us. It is actively giving away our information. It is creating an echo chamber in the name of connection. It surfaces the divisive and destroys the real reason we began using social media in the first place – human connection. It is a cancer. I’ve begun the slow proces…

In at least four investigations last year, Raleigh police used search warrants to demand Google device data near the scene of the crime.

This story was updated at 10:37 p.m.

Christopher Wylie goes on the record to discuss his role in hijacking the profiles of millions of Facebook users in order to target the US electorate

When fixing items is actively discouraged by manufacturers, recycling becomes a political act, say Repair Cafe volunteers

Whistleblower describes how firm linked to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon compiled user data to target American voters• How Cambridge Analytica’s algorithms turned ‘likes’ into a political tool

Whistleblower details workings of Cambridge Analytica and its use of targeted political advertising that could be used to influence people's opinions