'Van carrying evidence' leaves Cambridge Analytica HQ after search

Alexandra Richards24 March 2018

Enforcement officers for the Information Commissioner were seen leaving the London premises of Cambridge Analytica in a van believed to be carrying evidence after hours of searching.

The team entered the building in New Oxford Street at 8pm on Friday and emerged on foot at around 2.50am on Saturday.

A van thought to be carrying evidence retrieved during the search left via a rear exit.

The High Court granted a search warrant amid allegations that the company acquired Facebook user information without users' consent and used it for political campaigns.

A van was seen leaving the premises believed to be carrying evidence
EPA

Both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica have denied any wrong doing.

A group of 18 people, some wearing ICO enforcement jackets, had arrived at the building less than an hour after a High Court granted the search warrant

Information Commissioner's Office enforcement officers search the premises of Cambridge Analytica in central London
PA

Investigators could be seen examining documents and taking photographs of a whiteboard and of computers.

The data watchdog's investigation includes the acquisition and use of Facebook data by CA, its parent company SCL and academic Dr Aleksandr Kogan, who developed the app used to gather data.

It stems from claims over the harvesting of personal data - and whether it was used during Donald Trump's US presidential campaign or the Brexit referendum.

CA's chief executive Alexander Nix has been suspended, while Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has been called on to give evidence to MPs.

Elizabeth Denham, the Information Commissioner, had announced her intentions to gain a warrant to enter the offices on Monday. It was granted just after 7pm on Friday.

The ICO had tweeted that the operation was "just one part of a larger investigation into the use of personal data for political purposes and we will now need time to collect and consider the evidence".

Alexander Nix, who has been suspended as CA’s chief executive

Judge Leonard QC said he would give the reasons for his decision on Tuesday.

The ICO is responsible for regulating compliance with the Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Ms Denham said: "We need to get in there. We need to take a look at the databases, we need to look at the servers and understand how data was processed or deleted by Cambridge Analytica."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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