SCL Group

SCL (Strategic Communication Laboratories) Group is a private British behavioral research and strategic communication company. SCL is known as Cambridge Analytica in the United States.[1] It performs data mining and data analysis on its audience. Based on results, communications will be specifically targeted to key audience groups to modify behavior in accordance with the goal of SCL's client. The company describes itself as a "global election management agency"[2] London-based SCL was founded by Nigel Oakes who serves as its CEO.[3]

History

In 1990, Nigel Oakes who had a background in TV production and advertising founded the Behaviour Dynamics Institute (BDI) as a research facility for strategic communication.[3] The study of mass behavior and how to change it led him to establish Strategic Communication Laboratories in 1993.[2] Oakes thought that in order to shift mass opinion academic insights as gained through psychologists and anthropologist at BDI should be applied and would be more successful than traditional advertising methods.[4] BDI became an non-profit affiliate of SCL.

Activities

After an initial commercial success, SCL expanded into military and political arenas. It became known for involvement "in military disinformation campaigns to social media branding and voter targeting".[5] According to its website, SCL has participated in over 25 international political and electoral campaigns since 1994.[2] Since 2009, it has also started to apply its operations for disaster management and disease prevention.[2]

SLC’s involvement in the political world has been primarily in the developing world where it has been used by the military and politicians to study and manipulate public opinion and political will. It uses what have been called “psy ops” to provide insight into the thinking of the target audience.[4] SCL claims to have been successful to help foment coups.[5] According to its website, SCL has influenced elections in Italy, Latvia, Ukraine, Albania, Romania, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Colombia, Antigua, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago.[2] While the company initially got involved in elections in the United Kingdom, it ceased to do so after 1997 because staff members did not exhibit the same "aloof sensibility" as with projects abroad.[4]

SCL claims that its methodology has been approved or endorsed by agencies of the Government of the United Kingdom and the Federal government of the United States, among others.[6]

Cambridge Analytica

Main article: Cambridge Analytica

SCL formed Cambridge Analytica to participate in the election process in the United States. It entered the U.S. market in 2012, and was involved in 44 U.S. congressional, US Senate and state-level elections in the 2014 midterm elections[7] In 2015 it was disclosed that the company had entered the Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016, primarily in support of Ted Cruz. CA is heavily funded by hedge-fund billionaire Robert Mercer, a major supporter of Ted Cruz.[5]


References

  1. ↑ Sellers, Frances Stead (2015-10-19). "Cruz campaign paid $750,000 to 'psychographic profiling' company". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 SCL Group website
  3. 1 2 "Nigel Oakes". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Sasha Issenberg (November 12, 2015). "Cruz-Connected Data Miner Aims to Get Inside U.S. Voters' Heads". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Vogel, Kenneth P (July 7, 2015). "Cruz partners with donor's 'psychographic' firm". Politico. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ SCL Elections
  7. ↑ Sellers, Frances Stead (2015-10-19). "Cruz campaign paid $750,000 to 'psychographic profiling' company". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-03-07.

External links

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