The Great Hack

About The Great Hack

The Great Hack is a critically acclaimed documentary film released in 2019. Directed by Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, the film explores the impact of social media and data breaches on democratic processes, as demonstrated by the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The documentary examines how personal data is collected, analyzed, and used by companies and political campaigns to influence public opinion and manipulate elections.

Explore

• About
• Making / Production
• Actors
• Trivia / Interesting Facts
• Awards
• Quotes
• Music / Soundtrack

About

The Great Hack tells the story of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which unfolded in 2018 and exposed the unethical practices of the British political consulting firm. The documentary follows the journey of various individuals, including former Cambridge Analytica employee Brittany Kaiser and investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr, as they uncover the shocking truth behind the use of personal data for political gain.

The film provides a comprehensive look at the methods used by companies like Cambridge Analytica to collect and analyze vast amounts of personal data from social media platforms. It sheds light on the manipulative tactics employed to target and influence individuals' voting behavior during elections, with a particular focus on the 2016 Brexit campaign and the U.S. presidential election.

Making / Production

The Great Hack is a co-production between Netflix, Amer's production company Noujaim Films, and the British production company Sinking Ship Entertainment. Filming took place in various locations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, where key events surrounding the Cambridge Analytica scandal occurred.

The directors, Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim, employ a mix of interviews, archival footage, and expert analysis to construct a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. The filmmakers gained access to several key figures involved in the scandal, providing valuable insights into the inner workings of companies like Cambridge Analytica.

Actors

• Brittany Kaiser - Former Cambridge Analytica employee, provides insider insights into the company's operations.
• David Carroll - Associate professor at Parsons School of Design, filed a legal claim against Cambridge Analytica to retrieve his personal data.
• Carole Cadwalladr - Investigative journalist at The Observer, broke the story linking Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.
• Alexander Nix - Former CEO of Cambridge Analytica, offers his perspective on the scandal.
• Julian Wheatland - Former COO of Cambridge Analytica, shares his experiences working for the company.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Great Hack was nominated for the Best Documentary Feature category at the 2020 Academy Awards.
• The filmmakers faced legal challenges during the production of the documentary, highlighting the contentious nature of the subject matter.
• The documentary emphasizes the importance of protecting personal data and raises questions about the ethics of data usage.
• Cambridge Analytica claimed bankruptcy shortly after the scandal broke.

Awards

The Great Hack was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2020 Academy Awards. Although it did not win the award, its nomination acknowledged its critical acclaim and social impact.

Quotes

• "Data is the most valuable asset on Earth." - Brittany Kaiser
• "The reason why propaganda works is because we don't think it works." - Carole Cadwalladr
• "Cambridge Analytica wanted to figure out how to weaponize information." - David Carroll

Music / Soundtrack

The documentary features an original score composed by Gil Talmi. The music enhances the film's somber and gripping tone, capturing the urgency and suspense surrounding the Cambridge Analytica scandal.