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Minnesota GOP's CD Raises Privacy Concerns
doginthewoods writes to tell us the ThinkProgress blog is reporting that the Minnesota Republican Party has been distributing a new CD about a recent proposed amendment. The CD poses questions about some of the hot-button issues like abortion, gun control, and illegal immigration. The problem with this CD, however, is that it "phones home" to the Minnesota GOP, without making it clear that your name is attached. So, if you take a look at the CD and take time to answer the questions, beware. Once you are finished they will know not only who you are, but where you stand on the issues at hand.
You people who pretend to care about privacy should look at your tax forms some time. Do you support a repeal of the income tax for privacy reasons?
(No. Without income taxes, you wouldn't get to spend money you didn't earn.)
If it is spyware, it would be cool if a guy could get it widely distributed as an iso so everyone could test how strong the servers are in Minnesota and fill their tables up with worthless data... that would teach 'em, you betcha!
Unfortunately, we still have the old Fascists, the democrats who want to tag and follow everyone...
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Good grief, can we whore some liberal blogs a little more? Why not just link to the original Minnesota Public Radio article? Public radio isn't frothing at the mouth liberal enough for Slashdot now?
As for the actual charge, there is not even close to enough facts on just how much disclosure the packaging/eula has so it is hard to say much. But I'd assume the CD will come in a envelope with the Republican Party's name splattered all over it and that it will be mailed to people registered (and therefore in their computers, you did know that your voter registration is a matter of public record, right?) Republicans. So who is behind it and who will be getting the information should be fairly easy to suss out. And anybody with half a clue (i.e. most Republicans) will know the answers to this 'survey' will be heading to party HQ and used to target more fundraising appeals to ya. Because if you have EVER donated to a political party or organization you know that fundraising is job one. If that CD doesn't include a postage paid return envelope and beg letter asking the reader to give till it hurts they need a new party chairman.
Democrat delenda est
Fascism transcends party line. The definition of fascism, as offered by its creator Benito Mussolini: "The collusion of business and government for the mutual benefit of both."
Ergo, President Bush is a consummate fascist because he places the interests of business foremost in his agenda. Furthermore, the Republican Party - the 'party of business' - is interested in minimizing government restriction on business at the expense of the common citizen. Can't get much more fascist than that.
And before you accuse me of being specifically anti-Republican, the Democrats do the same, they just sugar-coat it. They soft-sell fascism. The key difference between them is that the Republicans these days have made a point of ensuring anyone who might have a moderating influence is safely out of power, while a few key Democrats who believe in the rights of the common person have somehow managed to keep afloat within their party...
This year with Diebold-brand electronic voting, we can expect even these few reasonable guys to be run out of office thanks to the happily untracable rigging of elections.
(disclaimer: insane leftist psycho)
Apparently us liberals are now terrified of anyone knowing our opinions. Yeah, it's bad that there are no privacy concerns in the terms of use, and I'm not surprised that Republicans are trying to hide their underhanded methods of stealing information.
But crap, they aren't getting my social, or the combination to my luggage (12345). Don't you WANT the government to know how you feel on the issues? Isn't that the point of a democratic society? And your boss? Your church? Why be so afraid to think what you think?
I don't know, I guess I can see some people wanting that information private. That can't be the majority view, though...
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"how can the same street intersect with itself? i must be at the nexus of the universe!" - cosmo kramer
I'm just curious. It seems kinda odd that a post that just spews random "Liberals are evil so we must ignore everything they say" nonsense is a "+4 insightful"
There's no actual content or arguments in the post. The closest it comes is wild speculation about what the packaging looks like.
Is this really what passes for being "Insightful" in this day and age?
"Live Free or Die." Don't like it? Then keep out of the USA
"I rob banks because that's where the money is."
When you control the executive, both houses of Congress, and an increasingly large fraction of the courts, you should probably expect to become the primary target for political attacks. After all, that's where the power is.
And how could you run an attack on the opposition party, seeing as there is none? The Democrats are about as effective as the Whigs, right now, and they don't seem to have the wherewithal to change that.
The Mongrel Dogs Who Teach
Here's the difference.
If I install a program on my computer it can ask for my name company name etc. It can then ask if I want to register this program and send this information outside the computer.
The difference would be that if the program asked for my information without stating that it would automatically be sent out it would be considered misrepresentation.
It is an understood assumption by consumers (one which I personally believe is valid as well as the standard) that software must inform you explicitly that any data will be sent outside the software/computer it is on.
One would not assume that the forms in software such as ACT, MS Word, MS Excel, or other programs that ask for your information would be sent out without at least telling you so before the process.
Even the software companies that are on the edge of customer acceptance in this area have a policy that you can read and find exactly what information is being sent back to the company. Quickbooks is a prime example. They monitor your usage and use pop-ups and in-program ads to try and sell you other products that they think you might use. This is specific data collected with the association to your registration. Which by the way is mandatory. But disclosed.
) Human Kind Vs Human Creation
) It'd be interesting to see how many humans would survive to serve us.
FYI, Slashdot _is_ a blog. The head blogger's name is CmdrTaco...
I just enjoy seeing one-sided statements made as though that's the only group who would commit such an act.
I don't understand the question....they are the only group who has commited such an act.
As far as your devil's advocate question that's like saying "would you call PETA inhumane if they sent a group to alaska to bash seals skulls in with clubs?". PETA wouldn't do it, so what does the question mean?
You need to get that checked. Kneejerk responses because of perceived political slant is dangerous to your credibility.
Now, the point of the article isn't that it was a certain political party (in this case the GOP), but that it was an unannounced case of data collection, possibly even masquerading/playing down the data collection. If it were a liberal group doing the same, the concern would be as great, the outcry most likely even greater. I suspect you would be one of the loudest critics if it were (for example) California Democrats doing it.
This is unethical, no matter who does it. However, that the Republican party is doing it makes it even more serious, due to their recent history of abusing such data.