2012-02-17

The use of "Big Data" marketing tactics to track and target voters raises concerns about the surveillance and manipulation of voters.  Compiling huge, private, and unaccountable political databases that tap into our Facebook, mobile phone and web data to better influence voters should not be tolerated.    A voter should decide what can be collected and used about them--not the parties or special interest group.  As this new Guardian article underscores, both parties must make public how they collect and use information for digital campaigning.  In the

We have long said that the biggest advertisers using Facebook get a special deal when it comes to using its targeting platform.  This week's Ad Age gives insight into this.  In its story on Facebook, marketers and data, it explains that:  "Facebook typically gives top advertisers early access to products. That special attention extends to interest-level data for marketers spending at least seven figures, according to someone familiar with the deals.