Invasion of privacy, or good politicking?

October 10, 2000 7:49 AM

Invasion of privacy, or good politicking? It's "computer software that helps political operatives intuit voters' beliefs and predilections based on data about their income, lifestyles, past electoral participation and other personal information."
posted by phichens (4 comments total)

I know politicking isn't a word, but this is an interesting article nevertheless. It's amazing what data about people is out there, though I really wonder why political groups would need to know what type of car I drive.
posted by phichens at 7:51 AM on October 10, 2000

>I know politicking isn't a word

Yeah huh.
posted by ethmar at 7:55 AM on October 10, 2000

I stand corrected.
posted by phichens at 9:08 AM on October 10, 2000

From the article:

>"I see us on the cusp of a completely new politics, a marriage of old shoe-leather organizing with the high-tech of the Internet age," Ralph Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition and now an adviser to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, said of the new computerized targeting. "Many believe that this race is so close, and that the two sides will fight to a draw on TV and in the debates. So it'll come down to the night before the dance, and these techniques could be the major factor."

1. Ralph Reed. shudder

2. Actually, I'm waiting for what used to be the infamous 15th-generation fax and will now be the email with 1500 "FWD's" in the subject line that warns about Albot Gore filling Cabinet posts with Ed Asner and Pee-Wee Herman. Then I'll make my informed decision.

I loved the part where the NRA sent flyers to pickup truck owners. That explains why I got strange mail when I owned my Dakota.
posted by ethmar at 9:16 AM on October 10, 2000