The Great Hack Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Nerdy data scientists weaponize Facebook quizzes to make Brexit happen and accidentally elect a reality TV star, proving once and for all that liking cat videos can topple democracy.

🍿 The Great Hack: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Data Brokerage Industry

The documentary opens by introducing the massive data collection happening online. Every click, like, and share is tracked and compiled to create detailed profiles. These profiles are then bought and sold by data brokers, often without the knowledge or consent of the individuals involved. This data is then utilized for purposes that vary from marketing and advertising to political campaigns.

Cambridge Analytica’s Rise

The film focuses on Cambridge Analytica (CA) and its role in harvesting data from millions of Facebook users. It details how CA exploited a loophole in Facebook’s API to gain access not only to users’ data, but also to the data of their friends. This allowed them to build detailed psychological profiles of individuals, which were then used for targeted political advertising.

The Whistleblowers

The Great Hack follows several key figures involved in exposing the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Brittany Kaiser, a former Director of Business Development for CA, provides insider accounts of the company’s operations. David Carroll, a Parsons School of Design professor, fights to access his own data held by CA. Paul-Olivier Dehaye is a third key voice who helped bring attention to the data privacy breaches.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Brittany Kaiser (Brittany Kaiser): The former Director of Business Development for Cambridge Analytica becomes a central figure in exposing the company’s data practices.
• David Carroll (David Carroll): The Associate Professor attempts to sue Cambridge Analytica to reclaim his personal data, highlighting data rights issues.
• Paul-Olivier Dehaye (Paul-Olivier Dehaye): The Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower exposes the inner workings of the data harvesting and manipulation strategies.
• Carole Cadwalladr (Carole Cadwalladr): The Investigative Journalist for The Guardian uncovers and reports on the Cambridge Analytica scandal, bringing it to public attention.
• Stephen Bannon (Stephen Bannon): The Former Chief Executive of the Trump Campaign represents the political force that allegedly benefited from Cambridge Analytica’s data practices.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Brittany Kaiser: “I have been offered introductions to clients that I refused to meet with before, such as the Alternative for Germany and Marine Le Pen’s campaign. I refused to even get on the phone call with them.” – Kaiser states this in front of a committee of inquiry to show some boundaries in her work.
• David Carroll: “We have a right to our data.” – Carroll voices this as he pursues legal action, emphasizing individual data rights.
• Carole Cadwalladr: “This is not about left or right. This is about whether elections are free and fair.” – Cadwalladr highlights the fundamental issue of data misuse affecting democratic processes.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Great Hack Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie messed with my head! I knew my data was being used, but seeing *how* it was used was a whole different level of creepy. That scene where they show how CA targeted people in Trinidad and Tobago with ‘apathy’ ads? Just…wow. Definitely makes you rethink every like and share!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Anyone interested in data privacy”
  • “People concerned about social media’s influence on politics”
  • “Viewers who enjoy investigative documentaries”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Discussion of political manipulation”
  • “Mentions of disturbing events and election interference”

Professional Reviews

• The Guardian: “A chilling and essential exposé on the dark side of data, The Great Hack meticulously uncovers how our personal information is weaponized, leaving you questioning everything you click on.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “While at times overwhelming in its complexity, The Great Hack ultimately succeeds in making the abstract threat of data misuse feel tangible and terrifying. Essential viewing for the digital age.

Audience Reactions

The documentary is genuinely scary but not that surprising.: Many viewers felt the film was an eye-opening account of the extent of data mining.

Opens your eyes to what’s really happening.: A significant number of users appreciated the film’s potential to show the scale of data mining to the public.

Overall Consensus: A thought-provoking, if sometimes overwhelming, exploration of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, raising serious questions about data privacy and its impact on democracy.

Awards

1. Primetime Emmy Award (Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special)- 2019

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The filmmakers gained access to previously unreleased files and recordings from inside Cambridge Analytica, providing a rare glimpse into the company’s operations.”
• “The documentary highlights the lack of comprehensive data privacy laws and the challenges individuals face in controlling their personal information in the digital age.”
• “The film follows David Carroll’s legal battle to obtain his personal data from Cambridge Analytica, showcasing the difficulties in exercising data rights.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Great Hack?

The Great Hack is a Netflix Original documentary. It is available to stream exclusively on Netflix with a subscription. At this time, it is not available for rent or purchase on platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Great Hack, you might like these similar films:

• Terms and Conditions May Apply (2013): Examines the fine print of online agreements and the extent of data collection by tech companies.
• Citizenfour (2014): A real life account of Edward Snowden leaking classified information about NSA surveillance programs.
• A Good American (2015): Details the story of NSA whistleblower Bill Binney and Project ThinThread, an early data collection program.
• The Social Dilemma (2020): Explores the negative impacts of social networking, with former employees discussing privacy concerns and manipulation.

🛒 The Great Hack Related Products

• The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power: Shoshana Zuboff’s groundbreaking book expands on the themes of The Great Hack, providing an in-depth analysis of how tech companies exploit personal data for profit and control.
• Citizenfour [Blu-ray]: Laura Poitras’s Oscar-winning documentary about Edward Snowden’s revelations of mass surveillance, providing context and a point of comparison to the issues raised in The Great Hack.
• Privacy Is Power: Why and How You Should Take Back Control of Your Data: A practical guide to protecting your personal data and reclaiming your digital privacy, offering actionable steps inspired by the events depicted in The Great Hack.
• Mr. Robot: Complete Series [Blu-ray]: This series is a fictional thriller that focuses on hacking, surveillance, and social engineering, reflecting the anxieties about technology and data privacy explored in The Great Hack.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Great Hack features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “G.I.R.L.” – performed by Jamie xx

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Insane Cambridge Analytica Election Interference Revelations in The Great Hack

Want to see just how Cambridge Analytica messed with elections? This short clip is mind-blowing – they even talk about influencing youth votes in Trinidad and Tobago. Seriously makes you wonder what else they were up to!

The Great Hack’s David Carroll finally sees his Cambridge Analytica data

Ever wonder what kind of data Cambridge Analytica had on people? Check out this video where David Carroll, who fought to get his data, finally sees it. It’s wild to see the impact this had on him and how much info they collected!

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