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Is the Obama campaign's new mobile app cool or creepy?

It's an app that gives you a map of your location and gives blue flags that mark where registered Democrats live. When you scroll over the blue flags it tells you the voter's first name, last initial, age and gender. Can you think of or give any good reasons why someone would want to use this app? Just curious. I see it as pretty creepy actually. But that's JMO. I would feel equally as creeped out if Republicans had done this.

Is Your Neighbor a Democrat? Obama Has an App for That

 

Screenshots taken from two different searches of the Obama for America app, which displays the names and addresses of nearby Democratic voters.

by Lois Beckett
ProPublica, Aug. 3, 2012, 3:52 p.m.

Curious how many Democrats live on your block? Just download the Obama campaign'snew mobile app.

The app, released last week, includes a Google map for canvassers that recognizes your current location and marks nearby Democratic households with small blue flags.

For each targeted address, the app displays the first name, age and gender of the voter or voters who live there: "Lori C., 58 F, Democrat."

All this is public information, which campaigns have long given to volunteers. But you no longer have to schedule a visit to a field office and wait for a staffer to hand you a clipboard and a printed-out list of addresses.

 

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QuinnMae

Asked by QuinnMae at 8:44 PM on Aug. 5, 2012 in Politics & Current Events

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Answers (15)
  • This is way creepy! I know the info is out there anyway, but somehow it doesn't seem quite so icky if it is a genuine political volunteer going to the BoE to get a list of doors to knock on.
    29again

    Answer by 29again at 10:57 PM on Aug. 5, 2012

  • I haven't seen it but, that sounds creepy.
    3libras

    Answer by 3libras at 9:29 PM on Aug. 5, 2012

  • I vote creepy too. I might have to download it though...just to see if there are any idiots in the neightborhood I should be watching out for.
    yourspecialkid

    Answer by yourspecialkid at 10:09 PM on Aug. 5, 2012

  • Creepy. Too much info for people to be able to download via an app.
    Izsarejman

    Answer by Izsarejman at 9:13 PM on Aug. 5, 2012

  • Wow, I agree that's creepy.
    JulieJacobKyle

    Answer by JulieJacobKyle at 11:29 PM on Aug. 5, 2012

  • doesn't the Prius in the driveway give it away?
    We don't have any Democrats in this county.
    jewjewbee

    Answer by jewjewbee at 9:25 AM on Aug. 6, 2012

  • Very creepy ,but I think a lot of this are creepy about him tho
    Anonymous

    Answer by Anonymous at 4:59 AM on Aug. 6, 2012

  • wow...i'd rather 'know' them by their bumperstickers..i don't care for anyone to know how i'm registered, either, unless i give the information.
    reminds me of Safe Neighborhood, in a way..only the predators aren't convicted/registered.
    dullscissors

    Answer by dullscissors at 7:47 AM on Aug. 6, 2012

  • I think that is an invasion of privacy.
    Dardenella

    Answer by Dardenella at 12:56 PM on Aug. 6, 2012

  • Beyond creepy.

    It'd be one thing if people opted in but to just post approximate address, age, gender and names (first only being irrelevant) based on some selection made who knows how recently on a voter registration app is just wrong. wrong. Wrong.

    I don't care which candidate is doing it.
    ldmrmom

    Answer by ldmrmom at 1:35 PM on Aug. 6, 2012

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