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.

Comments

Your tax forms

[Kohath]

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.)

Re:Your tax forms

[doublem]

They don't care about privacy. They care about the complaining. And they want to think of themselves as victims. For that "I'm a victim, empower me and give me goodies" benefit. Privacy is a pretense.

You nit wit. You aren't even arguing against a current stereotype. Didn't you get the memo? The "Liberals are victims" straw man went out of style in late 2001. The current trend is to justify ignoring Liberals by calling them "Anti-American" or "Traitors."

You're hanging on to the 1980's and 1990's straw man, NOT the current one, and you're coming off an uninformed and out of date.

Terrorism is the new Communism, and you're suppose dot be attacking Liberals from that angle.

Remember, now that it's Republicans in power, Big Government (The Fed is larger now then it has been at any point in history) is a GOOD thing, because it's monitoring you to "Protect your freedom."

Get with the program and get in line. Harping on the stock straw man form the last CENTURY makes the GOP look out of step and disorganized.

Are my opinons so dangerous?

[justin_w_hall]

(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...

Why is this troll modded "Insightful"

[doublem]

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?

Re:ummm...no

[Romancer]

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.