IP EXPO Manchester today announced
that Christopher Wylie, known for his role in setting up - and then taking down
- the cyberwarfare firm Cambridge Analytica, will open this year's show.
Cambridge
Analytica, linked to Donald Trump's presidential campaign and the UK referendum
on EU membership turning clicks into votes, quickly became one of the biggest
data scandals of the last decade. The firm used the personal data collected
from tens of millions of Facebook users without their knowledge or permission
and built sophisticated models of user's personalities.
Christopher
Wylie blew the whistle on Cambridge Analytica by detailing how it was done, the
blatant abuse of data and the attitude that it was just cyber-warfare and fair
game. His revelations, that exposed the rampant misuse of data, rocked Silicon
Valley and forced numerous Fortune 500 companies to overhaul cybersecurity and
user privacy practices.
Referred to
by The New Yorker as "a pink-haired, nose-ringed oracle sent from the
future", Christopher Wylie is set to bring his brutally honest candour to IP
EXPO Manchester 2019, to make AI understandable, disturbing - and yet somehow
compelling. On day one of the event, he will share his mind-bending stories
about the power of weaponised algorithms and information warfare.
"Ethical
and privacy issues around the violation of data have never been more apparent.
With GDPR and new legislations in place to help protect our data, businesses
and technology leaders must come together to remain compliant and best
understand how to tackle the issues we are currently facing." comments Andy
Steed, Director of Content at IP EXPO Manchester 2019.
"We're
looking forward to Christopher Wylie headlining day one of IP EXPO Manchester.
Hearing from the man inside one of the biggest data scandals of the decade is
an opportunity not to be missed."
Along with
Christopher Wylie, IP EXPO Manchester will play host to over 100 inspiring and
educational speakers from across the technology spectrum. Attendees will also
have access to over 100 exhibitors as part of the free to attend event at
Manchester Central.
For further
information and to register for free for IP EXPO Manchester 2019, please click
here. Get involved on Twitter using the #IPEXPOManchester hashtag.