Facebook suspends AggregateIQ

The social media network took the step following reports of links with the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, which has been accused of improperly accessing Facebook user data, the BBC has reported.

AggregateIQ worked with the Vote Leave campaign ahead of the UK’s European Union referendum in 2016.

Facebook said in a statement: "In light of recent reports that AggregateIQ may be affiliated with SCL and may, as a result, have improperly received FB user data, we have added them to the list of entities we have suspended from our platform while we investigate."

AggregateIQ has denied being part of Cambridge Analytica, SCL, or accessing improperly obtained Facebook data.

The information commissioner’s office (ICO) is looking into 30 organisations, including Facebook, as part of its investigation on the use of data and analytics for political purposes.

In a statement issued on 5 April, Elizabeth Denham, information commissioner, said that in addition to the investigation, she will make public policy recommendations to help the public understand how their personal data is used online and what steps they can take to control how it is used.