Facebook data breach: Cambridge Analytica shutting down

New York [USA], May 3 (ANI): The London-based analytics company Cambridge Analytica is shutting down operations effective Wednesday, following the massive Facebook data breach scandal.

Nigel Oakes, the founder of the data firm's parent company SCL Group confirmed that both companies were shutting up shop, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The company was hard hit by the legal fees over the Facebook investigation and was losing clients, the report quoted a person familiar with the matter as saying.

The employees have been asked to return their computers.

The development followed the suspension of its CEO Alexander Nix in March after he was caught on record suggesting unseemly practices to influence foreign elections.

Cambridge Analytica illegally accessed data from millions of Facebook accounts, whistleblower Christopher Wylie had disclosed earlier. Facebook confirmed the charge in April and informed that the data of a total of 87 million users was used without authorization by the data firm.

Known for its with US President Donald Trump's 2016 Presidential campaign, Cambridge Analytica was recently alleged to have influenced the 2014 general elections in India as well. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI