No One Expects the Data Science

Yesterday, Brazil lost to Germany 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals. But Germany had been preparing for the Brazilian team for two years using Data Science. 50 students from a Cologne university compiled a database on player behaviors, resulting in tactic changes for the German team.

The consequences are not limited to only the game. It is affecting the reelection of Brazilian president Dilma.

Thus there is the question of ethics. Could influencing the outcome of another country's election be considered a breach of international law, or perhaps just a diplomatic strain? Although the Reuters story linked above was published two days prior to the game, was Brazil made aware of Germany's use of data science when it began two years ago?

Is there an obligation in international relations when one country uses data science (or any other tool) to disclose the use of such a tool, when the goal is to achieve an end that, intentionally or not, may affect another country's political future? Even Nate Silver was surprised. He appears to have to taken into account Brazil's two down players, but not that Germany had leveraged data science for the past two years. Even the data scientist didn't expect the use of data science.