UK regulator calls for tougher rules on personal data use

LONDON (AP) — Britain's data commissioner on Tuesday called for tougher rules governing the use of personal data by political campaigns around the world, declaring that recent investigations have shown a disturbing disregard for voters and their privacy.

Speaking to the U.K. Parliament's media committee, Elizabeth Denham updated lawmakers on her office's investigation into the use of data analysis by political campaigns - a probe that has already seen Facebook slapped with a maximum fine for data misuse. Denham warned that democracy is under threat because behavioral targeting techniques developed to sell products are now being used to promote political campaigns and candidates.