GREG WALDEN, OREGON FRANK PALLONE, JR., NEW JERSEY
CHAIRMAN RANKING MEMBER

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

(tongues of the ??nitrh ?tates

?ame at Representatives

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE

2125 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON, DC 20515?6115

Majority (2021 225?2927
Minority {202) 225?3641

June 28, 2018

Mr. Matt Oczkowski
President

Data Propria

321 6th St

San Antonio, TX 78215-1842

Dear Mr. Oczkowski:

We are deeply concerned with protecting the privacy of consumers. Given news reports
indicating that Data Propria is being led by former Cambridge Analytica employees, including
yourself,l we believe the American people must be assured that Data Propria is not using
consumer data wrongfully obtained by Cambridge Analytica or engaging in other inappropriate
practices. To that end, we are writing to request that Data Propria brief the members and staff of
the Committee on Energy Commerce regarding Data Propria?s data collection and use
practices and policies by July 19, 2018.

As you know, Cambridge Analytica misused Facebook users? data collected through a
personality test app developed by Aleksandr Kogan of Global Science Research.2 The data was
sold to Cambridge Analytica in violation of Facebook?s app developer policies.3 Cambridge
Analytica used the improperly obtained data to target US. voters with political ads in the 2016
election.4 And while Cambridge Analytica reportedly told acebook that the data had been
destroyed in 2015, reporters from The New York Times said they had seen the data, or parts of the
data, first hand earlier this year.5 At this point, it is unknown whether any previous employees of
Cambridge Analytica might still have access to this data.

 

A Cambridge Analytica Alum Launches a New Data irm, Wired (May 29, 2018)


2 Revealed: 50 Million aceboolc Pro?les Harvested for Cambridge Analytica in Major
Data Breach, Guardian (Mar. 17, 2018)

3 Id.
4 Id.

5 Facebook and Cambridge Analytica: What You Need to Know as Fallout Widens, New
York Times (Mar. 19, 2018); acebook-Cambridge Analytica: A Timeline of the Data Hijacking

Mr. Oczkowski
June 28, 2018

Page 2

You have acknowledged in interviews with press that the work of Data Propria will be
very similar to Cambridge Analytica.6 The admitted overlap between the personnel and work of
Cambridge Analytica and Data Propria raises serious concerns about Data Propria?s practices
regarding the collection and use of Americans? personal information. At the requested briefing,
Data Propria should be prepared to discuss the following:

1.

Whether Data Propria has any data obtained by Cambridge Analytica from Aleksandr
Kogan in its possession;

Whether Data Propria has any data obtained directly from Aleksandr Kogan or Global
Science Research in its possession;

Whether Data Propria obtained any data about Facebook users through other third-
party apps on acebook (and if so, which apps) or from Facebook through any other
means, including Data Propria?s own app on Facebook;

Whether Data Propria obtained data about consumers through any other internet
advertising services or data brokers and if so, which services or data brokers;

Whether Data Propria obtain Americans? data that it uses for its political consulting
services; and

Whether Data Propria is providing consumers with notice of how it uses and shares
their information.

 

Scandal, CNBC (Apr. 10, 2018) 


6 A Cambridge Analytica Alum Launches a New Data irm, Wired (May 29, 2018)


Mr. Oczkowski
June 28, 2018
Page 3

Please contact Caroline Paris-Behr with the Democratic Committee staff at (202) 225-
3641 to schedule this brie?ng. Thank you for your attention to this matter.



Frank Pallone, Jr. Mike Doyle
Ranking Member Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Communications
Schakowsky 
anking Member

and Technology
Subcommittee on Digital Commerce
and Consumer Protection

Sincerely,