Let me think out loud about how this could play out. Depending on what data the GOP is gathering, you get home, you see the CD, you pop it in your computer. Now, the sponsor knows you played the thing. Do they know how long you played the thing? How many features you watched? When it comes time answer some questions (and I don’t think you’re required to answer them, but it doesn’t say that), you go ahead and click the answer. As far as I could tell, nothing tells you that the answers are about to be e-mailed or otherwise transmitted to the Minnesota GOP.
So you finish, and then the phone rings. “Hello, Mr/Mrs. Voters, it’s Joe and I notice you support gun control and the marriage amendment, would you like to donate some money to us?” That might startle the person who may have thought he/she was viewing the presentation in the privacy of the computer room.
It’ll be interesting to see how that data will be used and the extent to which it’s collected.
Apparently, the CD will go out with a note saying that the poll results are automatically reported back to the GOP, but one must wonder how clear that will be. Additionally, as this is essentially spyware, might it create additional security risks for your computer?
23 Reader Comments
7:20 pm
Damn. I wish we had some sort of “more inside” feature.
Didn’t realize that would be so freakin’ huge on the front page.
7:20 pm
Oh! I see we do!
7:22 pm
Yup, just took me a minute to figure it out. Thanks for your patience.
7:25 pm
Has this thing been distributed yet? Do we know what the disclaimer is? How is this thing being distributed? Do you have to request it or will we all just receive it?
I’ll spaz or not spaz after I know these answers.
7:56 pm
From the article, GOP Minnesota spokesman Mark Drake said:
On Friday, the cd will be released to the public. The cd’s packaging will make clear that the cd is interactive in nature.
Heh. I can’t wait.
8:28 pm
Did Tom just pop a nota bene?!?
8:29 pm
It’s spyware, and as such they’re not disclosing that they’re taking your personal information. That’s enough for me to start spazzing.
This one’s getting lots of national press: leave it to the party of Pawlenty and Coleman to shine a light on our fair state!
8:38 pm
I’m imagining our Attorney General tying on his superhero cloak as I read this.
8:43 pm
…whoop, it’s on slashdot.org.
8:47 pm
I didn’t do that.
8:50 pm
s4xton you’re evil. ok i’ll give you some karma points. Should have put the mnspeak link in the story as a going away present for rex.
I wonder how long mnspeak would stand up under the load.
9:32 pm
To the Hatchmobile!
Maybe it’s giving them too much credit, but I can’t imagine the lawyers on this would let that CD go out the door without a fairly large disclaimer/safe harbor.
9:41 pm
Could someone please clarify exactly what information you’re upset about? I mean, I can understand that the license agreement doesn’t state anything about the information being transmitted, but what do you expect to happen?
Do you expect to get a CD from a political party with a bunch of questions and fields that don’t get sent back to base? Do you think the questions are there just to make you think abou them?
I’m sorry, I’m clearly missing something here, could you please clue me in as to what it is?
9:44 pm
As long as they tell you they’re taking your information, I don’t see the big deal. If it bothers you don’t run the disc.
9:50 pm
Kevin — There’s a big difference between saying the CD is interactive and mentioning that all your answers, as well as some personal info, will automatically be shunted to a database. It remains to be seen as to how clearly this CD will be labeled. I think that’s what most of us are concerned about.
10:04 pm
Oh maybe something along the lines of:
N. Protecting personal privacy by prohibiting the use of social security numbers for any purpose other than social security identification and prohibiting the collection or release of any personal financial, medical, or other private information by anyone without the express consent of the person involved.
10:16 pm
Rich, you’re right. So let’s wait until this disc is released publicly before throwing a shitfit.
10:37 pm
Don’t worry Kevin, my panties are currently unbunched. I’m just curious how it’s going to play out, for the moment.
10:15 am
Even better yet… they find that not only does the GOP take the information, it stores it on an insecure site. Nice!
10:37 am
This isn’t simply polling data. They are not trying to gather a sample and “test” certain issues or messages. They will use this information and attribute it directly to the individual or family, so as to tailor a direct mail and phone campaign that fits that persons views. This information will go into their voter file.
If for example the person taking the survey says that they are pro gun, anti-gay and pro-choice, they will push the NRA and anti-gay marriage stuff to that person, but filter out the dead fetus lit pieces in order to keep that person in the GOP tent.
I don’t know whether I am mad becuase they are doing it, or mad becuase the DFL didn’t think of it first.
1:01 pm
Kevin, let’s wait for the disc to be released before rushing to the GOP’s defense. Kneejerk conservative.
1:03 pm
Actually, isn’t it better to throw a shitfit before the disc goes out? Y’know, so they can change it if they think the public will be annoyed by pilfering such info?
5:22 pm
it’s an online survey. Thinking it’s stealing information is like me not understanding I’m submitting this post when I write it in and I hit ‘add comment’. I hate the message they’re sending but come on people, when you receive a cd in the mail guess what they already have your name and address! When the guy from the Sierra Club comes to the door and asks for your name on a petition and to answer a few questions, do you ever question where the information is going? when you sign up for the Barnes and noble club do they tell you they sell your name to over 1000 mailing lists? (which they do by the way)When you pop a cd in the computer, answer questions in a form, hit a ’submit’ button, what do you think will happen? We are all not that stupid!!