Is Your Neighbor a Democrat? There's an App For That

theodp writes "ProPublica's Lois Beckett reports that the Obama for America campaign's new mobile app is raising privacy concerns with its Google map that recognizes one's current location, marks nearby Democratic households with small blue flags, and displays the first name, age and gender of the voter or voters who live there (e.g.,'Lori C., 58 F, Democrat'). Asked about the privacy aspects of the new app, a spokesperson for the Obama campaign wrote that 'anyone familiar with the political process in America knows this information about registered voters is available and easily accessible to the public.' Harvard law prof Jonathan Zittrain said the Obama app does represent a significant shift. While voter data has been 'technically public,' it is usually accessed only by political campaigns and companies that sell consumer data. 'Much of our feelings around privacy are driven by what you might call status-quo-ism,' Zittrain added, 'so many people may feel that the app is creepy simply because it represents something new.'"

Comments

They know it's safe

[SuperKendall]

So far all the homicidal nut jobs in the U.S. have liberal bents, so it's quite safe to reveal where Democrats live.

Revealing locations of conservatives now, that would lead to some real issues...

People: register independent, and vote for who you like, not the color of their badge.

Re:A good reason to go independent

[sqrt(2)]

I don't see how that's any different than a county/town banning strip clubs, bars, alcohol sales. Are you equally outraged when that happens? If not, you're displaying some cognitive dissidence that you should see to before preaching to others about moral clarity.