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Alexander Nix suspended by Cambridge Analytica after CEO was secretly filmed 'boasting of dirty tricks to manipulate elections'

The company's chief Alexander Nix, right, and managing director of CA Political Global Mark Turnbull, left, were filmed at a series of meetings last year: Channel 4 News
The company's chief Alexander Nix, right, and managing director of CA Political Global Mark Turnbull, left, were filmed at a series of meetings last year: Channel 4 News

Data firm Cambridge Analytica has suspended CEO Alexander Nix after he was secretly filmed apparently boasting they could entrap politicians in compromising positions with bribes and Ukrainian sex workers.

In an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News, senior executives from the British firm, which credits itself with Donald Trump’s presidential election victory, are filmed claiming they also used ex-spies to dig dirt on political opponents.

It comes as the data company is embroiled in a scandal over allegations it harvested personal details from more than 50 million Facebook users.

A statement on the firm's website reads: "The Board of Cambridge Analytica has announced today that it has suspended CEO Alexander Nix with immediate effect, pending a full, independent investigation.

Alexander Nix: CEO of Cambridge Analytica (REUTERS)
Alexander Nix: CEO of Cambridge Analytica (REUTERS)

"In the view of the Board, Mr. Nix’s recent comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 and other allegations do not represent the values or operations of the firm and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view this violation.

"We have asked Dr. Alexander Tayler to serve as acting CEO while an independent investigation is launched to review those comments and allegations.

"We have asked Julian Malins QC to lead this investigation, the findings of which the Board will share publicly in due course.

"The Board will be monitoring the situation closely, working closely with Dr. Tayler, to ensure that Cambridge Analytica, in all of its operations, represents the firm’s values and delivers the highest-quality service to its clients."

MPs have demanded Zuckerberg appear in Parliament (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
MPs have demanded Zuckerberg appear in Parliament (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mr Nix recently apologised via the company's website, saying the firm did not "use untrue material for any purposes".

"I am aware how this looks, but it is simply not the case," he said.

"I must emphatically state that Cambridge Analytica does not condone or engage in entrapment, bribes or so-called `honeytraps', and nor does it use untrue material for any purposes."

MPs have summoned Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to face questions following the Cambridge Analytica leak.

The request came as data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica, based in the UK, faced allegations it had improperly used Facebook data to help Donald Trump win the 2016 US presidential election.

Cambridge Analytica has denied misusing data and said it deleted the Facebook data after learning the information did not adhere to data protection rules.

The chairman of the culture, media and sports select committee, Damian Collins MP, wrote in a letter to Mr Zuckerberg: "The committee has repeatedly asked Facebook how companies acquire and hold on to user data from their site, and in particular about whether data had been taken without their consent.

"Your officials' answers have consistently understated the risk, and have been misleading to the Committee.

"It is now time to hear from a senior Facebook executive with the sufficient authority to give an accurate account of the catastrophic failure of process."

The letter asks that Mr Zuckerberg confirm his attendance by Monday March 26, though he is under no legal obligation to do so.