MUST READ

This book is a must read. I knew a little bit about how data and used and abused but to the extent that this happens is quite shocking. Somewhat entertaining too.

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Sensational

Electric, the story of our times with brilliant clarity and ideas for how to fix things!

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A must read for understanding 21century propaganda

A must read for understanding 21century propaganda. Our society is heavily influenced by a small number of billionaires. Their objectives are primarily to grow. The lives of poorer and less influential individuals... the bulk of society is just a commodity. In the same vain as The Matrix.
thank you

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Some sensible dry conclusions and recommendations

A succinct account with a forgivable dash of woke hipsterism running through a story that reaches some balanced thoughts on regulation of the tech sector.

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Worrying for our democracy

This is a terrifying account of the lengths billionaires went to defraud nations and weaponise social media ensuring that the democracy we had in the 20th century is no longer fit for purpose and needs reform.

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Eye opening

I certainly will be changing my privacy settings - especially given my emails were recently hacked!

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A Must Read for Everyone

Essential reading for understanding how vulnerable we are to manipulation and control via social media. Democracy is not safe until we change the law governing social media and other information gathering platforms. More than that though this is an entertaining and fascinating story, a wild ride, intelligent, thoughtful and ultimately hopeful.

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Great book, very eye opening

Great book. Surprisingly easy to pick up where you left off, I found myself thinking about what he was going to say next when I wasn't able to listen. Highly reccomend this book and I sent it to all my friends :)

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Amazing story, well told (and narrated)

This is such an important book. Wylie tells it very well, stearing clear of sensationalism but never letting the complexities and nuances seem dry. He is a person near the very centre of a storm and his story touches on many issues, all of them current and written about in a considered way and with fascinating insight.
Although it was not dwelt upon in the book, my enduring impression is of how intimidating and oppressive it is to live as a whistleblower. Given Wylie's involvement you can understand why he now feels compelled to do it.
Don't be put off by the title: this isn't some niche, anti-establishment conspiracy story, it's incredibly real.
This heart of this isn't party political, or pro-/anti-Brexit, but manages to be bigger than both issues. It feeds a public debate on privacy that we need to be having.

*Just an amendment to say Emily F.s assertion that Wylie constantly goes on about being gay was not at all my impression as a straight reader. Wylie does explain how being gay is part of his story however, from the experience of how preparing to come out makes you sensitive to power structures, to how right-wing religious extremism's demonising of homosexuality contributed to his discomfort with the Cambridge Analytics project. He acknowledges the relevance of his sexuality to his experience. As a straight person I feel it is equally important for us to also acknowledge the relevance of our sexuality to our perception, and reviews.

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6 people found this helpful

As it happened

A brave, smart guy who was ' in the room' and methodically establishes a crime for which no one in the UK has been prosecuted. Brexit was a crime.

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