SCL Group

SCL (Strategic Communication Laboratories) Group is a private British behavioral research and strategic communication company. In the United States, SCL has gained public recognition mainly though its affiliated corporation Cambridge Analytica. It performs data mining and data analysis on its audience. Based on results, communications will be specifically targeted to key audience groups to modify behavior in accordance with the goal of SCL's client. The company describes itself as a "global election management agency". London-based SCL was founded by Nigel Oakes who serves as its CEO.

In 1990, Nigel Oakes who had a background in TV production and advertising founded the Behavioural Dynamics Institute (BDI) as a research facility for strategic communication. The study of mass behavior and how to change it led him to establish Strategic Communication Laboratories in 1993. Oakes thought that in order to shift mass opinion academic insights as gained through psychologists and anthropologist at BDI should be applied and would be more successful than traditional advertising methods. BDI became a non-profit affiliate of SCL.

After an initial commercial success, SCL expanded into military and political arenas. It became known for alleged involvement "in military disinformation campaigns to social media branding and voter targeting". According to its website, SCL has participated in over 25 international political and electoral campaigns since 1994.

SCL’s involvement in the political world has been primarily in the developing world where it has been used by the military and politicians to study and manipulate public opinion and political will. It uses what have been called “psy ops” to provide insight into the thinking of the target audience. SCL claims to have been successful to help foment coups. According to its website, SCL has influenced elections in Italy, Latvia, Ukraine, Albania, Romania, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Colombia, Antigua, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago. While the company initially got involved in elections in the United Kingdom, it ceased to do so after 1997 because staff members did not exhibit the same "aloof sensibility" as with projects abroad.

...
Wikipedia