The Minnesota GOP’s Stealth Attack On Privacy
A story by Minnesota Public Radio reveals a disturbing new way that a political party is secretly grabbing sensitive personal information about voters.
This week the Minnesota Republican Party is distributing a new CD about a proposed state marriage amendment. Along with flashy graphics, the CD asks people their views on controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, illegal immigration, and so on.
The problem – the CD sends your answers back to headquarters, filed by name, address, and political views. No mention of that in the terms of use. No privacy policy at all. The story concludes: “So if you run the CD in your personal computer, by the end of it, the Minnesota GOP will not only know what you think on particular issues, but also who you are.â€
These practices fall way below the standard for today’s polling firms and web sites. The norm for polling firms is to anonymize the data and report only statistical totals. The norm for commercial web sites is to have a privacy policy, with Federal Trade Commission enforcement if the web site breaks its privacy promise.
Without a privacy policy, the state party can tell your views to anyone at all. If you give the “wrong†answers on abortion or other issues, they can tell your boss, members of your church, or anyone else. In fact, these answers could get distributed to campaigns in your town during get-out-the-vote efforts – precisely the place where “wrong†answers can be most damaging.
The right answer here is simple. If you are collecting data and keeping it in identified form, then you should tell people. If you are selling your lists or sending them to other groups, you should tell that as well. That goes for all political parties.
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That is called spyware or malware and is against the law.
February 28th, 2006 at 4:26 pmThe GOPs new Contract with America - Freedom of Information Gathering Act
February 28th, 2006 at 4:31 pmhttp://www.Poindexter.con
February 28th, 2006 at 4:31 pmPlease disregard #3 post and the link it contained…. unintentional brain fart…..
February 28th, 2006 at 4:34 pmSomehow I don’t see the repubs rallying against this. Now if it was a Democrat organization doing it, why they’d burn them at the stake.
figures.
February 28th, 2006 at 4:35 pmsmells kind of “rovish” to me. ya think?
February 28th, 2006 at 4:35 pmCould it be that the NSA data-mining activities are basically aimed at gathering this sort of information? Or would that be unlikely?
February 28th, 2006 at 4:35 pmI love it when Republicans get seedy. It’s so Penguinesque from Batman. Someone needs to sue!
February 28th, 2006 at 4:37 pmAh Spudge, if they only cared about silly legalities.
February 28th, 2006 at 4:38 pmprogressive and proud,
Well, I hav to admit that law was passed 2 years ago, so it is an “old law.”
February 28th, 2006 at 4:42 pmhttp://www.impeachbush.org/site/PageServer
Make it a million.
February 28th, 2006 at 4:42 pmI agree with Spudge_Boy’s post:
Sounds an awful lot like the debacle last Fall with the SONY “rootkit” that told SONY how many times a song was played, etc - the HUGE problem was that the software on the CD opened Windows operating systems to all sorts of vulnerabilities that black hat hackers could easily exploit. Here is a link from BoingBoing:
http://www.boingboing.net/ 2005/ 11/ 14/ sony_anticustomer_te.html
As a result, SONY got loads of criticism for infecting PCs with this “rootkit” (and, like the Repugs, did not mention that this was being installed!)
Have the local geek run the CD and see if it acts like the SONY Rootkit. If so…HUGE CONTROVERSY!
February 28th, 2006 at 4:45 pmI voted.
I am actually stunned the president is trying to force this UAE deal. I’m truly stunned. What happened? Is this a dream? It has all been a lie! I can’t believe it!!!
February 28th, 2006 at 4:49 pmHey, if illegal spying is good enough for Dubbya, it’s good enough for the GOP. Why should they respect the privacy of US Citizens any more than the alleged president?
February 28th, 2006 at 4:52 pmahh what a precedent bush set when he set a false argument and then congress refused to investigate…maybe now a judge can actually rule to protect citizen’s privacy and roll the mindset back to pre-1984 mentality
February 28th, 2006 at 4:57 pmGOP meet BIG BROTHER, I’m sure you two will get alone fabulously, remember play nice……
February 28th, 2006 at 4:57 pmOMG… We really are under attack!
February 28th, 2006 at 4:59 pmwith GWB, rove or dick it cannot be big brother, maybe puny little brother, or annoying cousin…redhead step child is watching over us!
February 28th, 2006 at 5:03 pmthe left needs to internalize the same logic, build up a list of religious fundamentalists who buy condoms, have affairs, view internet porn, subscribe to cable porn, use drugs, frequent strip joints,or have arranged abortions for their daughters, etc.
put RFIDs in Girls Gone Wilds DVDs and bizarre sex toys and bongs, then sit at a computer screen and watch them flooding into the homes of upstanding God-fearing Americans.
“another batch of vibrators, porn and bongs just went off in the house of Pastor Harris, Sir, looks like another Saturday night swingers party…”
February 28th, 2006 at 5:05 pmLingfelix - no need to dop a dirty trick, the Adult Film industry rents over 700 million videos each year, Democrats can’t be renting them all. Hypocracy, It The American Way!
February 28th, 2006 at 5:20 pm19)
Now that is an idea. Two-faced hypocrits stuttering and spiting like homer simpson trying to figure out a lie to cover it all up… And dont think we wouldnt catch very many. From the top TV evangelists all the way down to the preachers daughter in LittleTown, MI would be busted…
My wifes friend is one of these people that are not too bright … she is on whatever political side her current fairweather boy friend is on. She had an abortion a couple years ago and now that her newest bar room boyfriend is a republican she thinks it should be outlawed… of coarse it has nothing to do with abortion or morality. It is all about HER and as soon as her little slutty self finds yet another bar room boyfriend that is not republican she will end up getting yet another abortion and demanding that her body is her business… its only OK or WRONG when she is in the mood … two-faced hypocrits. And the same goes for many of the church people. I grew up among them and was friends with their children… I got to see some crazy stuff… from a father that acts like a peace loving Jesus loving ned flanders at church and when he gets home he is a anger management poster child that beats his son without mercy. And the evangelist father of one of my childhood friends that I secretly played dungeons and dragons with while his mom was out shopping and his evangelist dad was in the bedroom with his boyfriend playing hide the sausage.
They have no shame…they just pretend when at church or on TV.
February 28th, 2006 at 5:27 pmMinnesota GOP needs a spanking!…
The Republican party of Minnesota is sending around CDs that you put in your computer and take a survey. The problem with this survey is that the program on the compact disc sends your answers back to party HQ where they’re stored—along wit…
February 28th, 2006 at 5:36 pm21 - absolutely! if we have to hear the rhetoric about godless sinners let’s hear all about the godly sinners, too. if we have to hear anti-abortionists going on and on, let’s hear their sexual history. if someone wants to lecture on the evils of drugs or porn, let’s see their rap sheet and credit card statements.
the greatest thing about America is that people used to know how to mind their own business. but each time someone sticks their nose in, make them pay by living up to the standards they want to apply to everyone else.
February 28th, 2006 at 5:42 pmRummy Says War on ABCs ‘the Note’
I prefer to Call Rummy and his Friends CercopesRumsfeld Zeros in on the Internet
By Mike Whitney
02/24/06
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article12060.htm
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
“ICH” — – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was warmly greeted at the recent meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations. The CFR is the hand-picked assemblage of western elites from big-energy, corporate media, high-finance and the weapons industry. These are the 4,000 or so members of the American ruling class who determine the shape of policy and ensure that the management of the global economic system remains in the hands of U.S. bluebloods.
As the Pentagon’s chief-coordinator, Rumsfeld enjoys a prominent place among American mandarins. He is the caretaker of their most prized possession; the high-tech, taxpayer-funded, laser-guided war machine. The US Military is the crown-jewel of the American empire; a fully-operational security apparatus for the protection of pilfered resources and the ongoing subjugation of the developing world.
Rumsfeld’s speech alerted his audience to the threats facing America in the new century.
He opined: “We meet today in the 6th year in what promises to be a long struggle against an enemy that in many ways is unlike any our country has ever faced. And, in this war, some of the most critical battles may not be in the mountains in Afghanistan or in the streets of Iraq, but in newsrooms—in places like New York, London, Cairo, and elsewhere.â€
“New York�
February 28th, 2006 at 5:48 pmIt is simply illegal. They should be sued.
February 28th, 2006 at 5:50 pmOkay it didnt say the Note.
I Lied. Sorry. =)
February 28th, 2006 at 5:50 pmA simple de-compilation of the GOP code should reveal the email or web address that is being illegally used to collect this information.
If that were public, it might be subjected to an equally illegal but well deserved denial of service attack…..
February 28th, 2006 at 5:51 pmCould it be that the NSA data-mining activities are basically aimed at gathering this sort of information? Or would that be unlikely?
————————————————–
Heres the reason, I think, that Bush must get Warrants for his Spying.
Elections, Votes and Political Spying. Lets say this group had access to the NSA records. Politicians already have a VERY hard time not being Corrupt or partial to Corporate Interests, Campaign Lies, Cronyism. The Last people you would want with this data.
How many here trust Politicians?
Its like a cookie jar to the power hungry Politicos.
The people need to KEEP the Republicans and Democrats Hands OUT of THAT JAR.
February 28th, 2006 at 6:02 pm#A simple de-compilation of the GOP code should reveal the email or web address that is being illegally used to collect this information.
If that were public, it might be subjected to an equally illegal but well deserved denial of service attack…..
Comment by Ima Hacker — February 28, 2006 @ 5:51 pm
Indeed. I’m interested to see who the Domain might be registered to as well.
February 28th, 2006 at 6:05 pmHow likely is it that a democrat or liberal is going to receive the disk, much less respond to it? It seems like an illegal tactic, and it is certainly underhanded, but the faithful will rally behind it. They will say, “What do I have have to hide?”
February 28th, 2006 at 6:15 pmIndeed. I’m interested to see who the Domain might be registered to as well.
Comment by mr ho — February 28, 2006 @ 6:05 pm
You know, if these guys want my vegan recipe for Southwestern chili, all they have to do is ask… I’d be happy to send it to them… Unless they are after that Quaker recipe for whole wheat bread this week…
February 28th, 2006 at 6:17 pmLess than 2 weeks ago I had a phone poll with the exact questions. I was annoyed that the poll didn’t address the real issues that concern most people I know & told the pollster just that. I hate to see things like this in my beautiful blue state.
February 28th, 2006 at 7:11 pm#30:
I’d like to know to whom these are being distributed, as well. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if known Republicans are the only people NOT receiving this CD.
February 28th, 2006 at 7:12 pm[…] Think Progress » The Minnesota GOP’s Stealth Attack On Privacy: This week the Minnesota Republican Party is distributing a new CD about a proposed state marriage amendment. Along with flashy graphics, the CD asks people their views on controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, illegal immigration, and so on. […]
February 28th, 2006 at 7:38 pmYet MORE proof of how dangerous and TREASONOUS the right wing Bushites are…
…you know who they are…
…they’re your neighbors, your family members and friends…
…you’re either with America or with the treasonous Bushites…
…no longer can you afford to straddle the fence…
February 28th, 2006 at 7:44 pmRepublicans Distributing Spyware…
Republicans Distributing Spyware……
February 28th, 2006 at 7:59 pm[…] In Minnesota this time. A story by Minnesota Public Radio reveals a disturbing new way that a political party is secretly grabbing sensitive personal information about voters. […]
February 28th, 2006 at 8:16 pmTactics Hitler would be proud of.
February 28th, 2006 at 8:16 pmYou know, if these guys want my vegan recipe for Southwestern chili, all they have to do is ask… I’d be happy to send it to them… Unless they are after that Quaker recipe for whole wheat bread this week…
NSA then said, “Quaker bread with BOMBS! in it?”
February 28th, 2006 at 8:18 pmA few more details:
http://www.startribune.com/587/story/274540.html
Supporters to use DVDs, ads to push marriage amendment
Turning up the heat on the eve of the legislative session, two groups supporting a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage are targeting what they consider vulnerable DFL Senate districts with radio ads and a DVD mailing, urging constituents to put on the pressure for an up-or-down vote.
Last update: February 28, 2006 – 12:30 AM
Two groups supporting a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage are targeting what they consider vulnerable DFL Senate districts with radio ads and a DVD mailing, urging constituents to put on the pressure for an up-or-down vote.
State Republican Chairman Ron Carey said the party’s statewide mailing of several hundred thousand DVDs will target districts of DFL senators who he said have blocked putting the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Same-sex marriage already is illegal in Minnesota, but supporters of the amendment want voters to decide in November whether to add a ban on such marriages and their legal equivalents to the State Constitution.
Today, another group, Minnesota Citizens in Defense of Marriage, is expected to announce its own campaign, which will include radio advertising in key markets.
February 28th, 2006 at 8:26 pmSpudge nailed it in the very first comment. This action pretty clearly falls afoul of cybercrime law. Remember the recent Sony DRM fiasco?
The Minnesota GOP may be in a tad bit of trouble, here. And if the national GOP was involved, they might be, too.
February 28th, 2006 at 8:30 pmGOP must be taking advice from Sony Corp.
:-0
I can hear it now, “Well if you vote the right way there is nothing wrong with them having your information.”
The Giant is sleeping…….
February 28th, 2006 at 9:08 pmAn invasion of privacy later to be used as propaganda and/or extortion.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:11 pmAren’t the Minnesota lawyers looking into this obvious illegal act?
Ya know, if you/they haven’t done anything wrong, you/they have nothing to be afraid of.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:13 pmNot to defend this action by any means, but if you received a questionaire on a cd without a specific means to submit the results of the survey, wouldn’t you think there was either something foul afoot or the marketing/polling firm that sent it to you was exceptionally inept?
February 28th, 2006 at 9:19 pmThank goodness nothing like this sort of data mining for political purposes is going on at the federal level.
Say what?
February 28th, 2006 at 9:21 pmOK, maybe I’m overlooking something to blame the GOP for on this one, but what do people think the software on the CD will do if they’re filling out a questionaire? What would be the point of the questionaire if it didn’t send the info back to some repository? It isn’t an IQ test or an eharmony personality profile.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:24 pmThe posts here are just ridiculous! Sensitive private information? Like, what, your address? Oh, wait. It’s your political views.
Get over it. The same knuckleheads that are outraged about this have signs out in their front yard declaring who they vote for and have bumper stickers all over their cars displaying their views on things like abortion, marriage, and the environment. I can look up who they are easily, and so can anyone else.
C’mon, people. Get something else to complain about. Your so-called “privacy” has been only in your imagination for a decade (or more).
February 28th, 2006 at 9:37 pm[…] Update: I was referring to this article. […]
February 28th, 2006 at 9:43 pmDo we know for sure there is nothing along with the disc? It hasn’t even been released yet. I’ll reserve judgment until I see it and the packaging for myself.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:48 pmOh jesus christ… a stupid party in some unimportant backwater state pulls some tricks on a CD and suddenly liberals cry a political jihad against all republicans evreywhere. same evreyday liberal bullshit.
I am a republican, and i am a libertarian. Lets not forget? that this is not the national GOP… this is the minisota GOP. Last time i checked, minisota isnt exactly a imporant republican stronghold. in fact, minisota went to kerry in the last election. now liberals would have you belive that its a big conspiracy by the GOP to collect big brother info on you all. The facts (which, are usually far from what liberals say) are that the minnasota republican party is a unimportant private organization who did a illegal thing which is wrong. Does this organization represent republicans evreywhere?
HELL NO. And thats a fact, jack.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:17 pmA few more details in this story…
February 28th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Trying again. More details here…
http://www.publicradio.org/columns/minnesota/polinaut/
February 28th, 2006 at 10:26 pmMinnesota a backwater?
ok, got’cha.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:27 pmNow all we need is some “Reichtag Fire” type event. Ow, we already had one. Reichtag Fire - look it up
February 28th, 2006 at 10:31 pmYes. Powerline says it’s hunky dory.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:38 pmOf course Powerwhine says that it’s hunky-dory. After all, it’s not democrats breaking the law.Hindrocket. hahahaha. I think my wife has one of those in her sock drawer.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:50 pmReichstag, SFB.
If you’re going to act like you know something, if would help if you could GET IT RIGHT.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:51 pmAs a Republican I find it disturbing that some of our members have resorted to this kind of tactic.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:53 pmIma Hacker - KISS. Simply sniff the network traffic, no need to disassemble the code.
February 28th, 2006 at 10:57 pm[…] G.O.P. […]
February 28th, 2006 at 10:57 pm51. You’re a libertarian, and you’re defending this? When did I get to Bizarro-world?
February 28th, 2006 at 10:58 pmResorted to? How about developed and perfected. I’ve never seen better criminals than the Republicans in office. Can’t nail any of ‘em on anything, because NOBODY REMEMBERS ANYTHING!
February 28th, 2006 at 11:00 pmAnyone know where to get one of these CDs? I looked briefly at the MN Republican’s site and didn’t see anything about it.
February 28th, 2006 at 11:02 pmI’m just asking because I’m curious as to the veracity of the claims…while considering the sources of the accusations. (I’m independant, BTW).
I’m starting to get the impression that the GOP is just a criminal gang, shaking down the American people (and the world).
Heh.
February 28th, 2006 at 11:02 pmUmmmmm, so did they think they were filling out a survey to have it sit on their hard drive? I’m all for electronic freedom (i’m a member of eff) but seriously people, what were they thinking? Are they surprised it was sent out? What kind of stupid program takes a survey then does nothing with it?
Ha!
Oh, and just sniff the traffic and you’ll have the destination of the material to do with it as you wish. I’ll bet it’s webmaster@minnesotarepublicans.org or something, nothing too secretive. It’d be funny if it was to the NSA or something though.
February 28th, 2006 at 11:09 pmThrowing about the spyware term is kinda silly,the CD contains a survey, what did you expect the damn thing to do with your answers? just leave them sitting on your hard drive? There probably should have been something stating that your personal information would be sent (personally if I hadn’t seen something saying it wouldn’t I would assume that it would, and that they could and would turn around and sell it, but I am paranoid.), but to make it sound as though people were tricked into installing the program and that it phoned home without their consent is silly. What next?
February 28th, 2006 at 11:20 pmshould modify the code on the disk to send back spysoftware instead of answers
February 28th, 2006 at 11:36 pm“The posts here are just ridiculous! Sensitive private information? Like, what, your address? Oh, wait. It’s your political views.
Get over it. The same knuckleheads that are outraged about this have signs out in their front yard declaring who they vote for and have bumper stickers all over their cars displaying their views on things like abortion, marriage, and the environment. I can look up who they are easily, and so can anyone else.”
The concern is that the organization snuck a piece of software that installs automatically onto your pc, without your consent, then phones home with your information, passing this on to the state GOP website.
of course the state GOP website didnt even secure the location the data is sent to, probably because they have some boobs running this operation, so your data goes up on the web, free for those who might have malicious plans for it.
The problem with this kind of software is not necessarily that it is sending your results to the organization that originated it, that seems pretty logical considering it is a virtual poll, the issue is that they software could be hijacked and used like any other piece of software. this kind of thing shouldnt be allowed (and if what i hear about developments in vista is accurate, wont be possible any more) because your information is dangerous in the hands of someone who might want to abuse it.
February 28th, 2006 at 11:56 pmWonder what the data base will used for, maybe the same a the administration of Gov. Ernie Fletcher who fired people from merit positions which mean they worked and earned their positions, the merit employees were replaced by people of the “right” political persuasion, and when they got caught the good christian governor the good caring man that he is issued a blanket pardon to immunise everyone from prosecution, except himself, and now they are fighting to stop the attorney general from any further investigation by going to a court where Fletcher placed two of his political contributors in place to help judge the case, you can’t make this sh*t up. The repugs are outsourcing the DC corruption machine to the states.
http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=4565082
about the judges appointment
http://www.whas11.com/ topstories/ stories/ WHAS11_TOP_FletcherAppoints.5ce69579.html
February 28th, 2006 at 11:57 pm[…] The problem – the CD sends your answers back to headquarters, filed by name, address, and political views. No mention of that in the terms of use. No privacy policy at all. […]
March 1st, 2006 at 12:00 amThere aren’t any conservative Republicans any more in Minnesota. All the country club set around here have suddenly started calling themselves “libertarians,” like Jerrad the Jenius above. Thanks, but he’s your incompetent dictator-wannabe, Jerry, my boy. You voted for him, now defend him like a man or shut up.
March 1st, 2006 at 12:42 ampersonally if I hadn’t seen something saying it wouldn’t I would assume that it would, and that they could and would turn around and sell it, but I am paranoid.), but to make it sound as though people were tricked into installing the program and that it phoned home without their consent is silly. What next?
Comment by Nosferatu — February 28, 2006 @ 11:20 pm
Maybe everyone is not as smart as you are dinglefrist! Wonder why there are laws in place for situations such as this? Laws are only to be followed by everyone except for Republicans, right?
March 1st, 2006 at 1:02 am#73 That is the opinion if the governor of kentucky who issues a blanket pardon before the investigation is even done.
March 1st, 2006 at 1:11 am[…] security. Would you trust the GOP with your private information? Yeah, I wouldn’t either. Permalink| […]
March 1st, 2006 at 1:13 amYou’re all just a bunch of blathering idiots. This is not spyware. It’s just a survey distributed on CD.
People run a CD, and it asks them survey questions, and asks them what their name, etc is. What kind of idiot would think a CD will take survey questions and personal data from them and *not* send it to some central location?
If you don’t want your personal data in there, just lie about your name on the survey, it’s that easy. Or don’t take it at all.
This CD does not install any kind of spyware that monitors people’s actions.
March 1st, 2006 at 1:17 am[…] The answer, it seems, is to continue a rich American Republican tradition of invading peoples’ privacy. Read, and if your head doesn’t explode, come back and we’ll discuss. […]
March 1st, 2006 at 1:20 amThere are Republicans in Minnesota?
March 1st, 2006 at 1:46 amIf you don’t want your personal data in there, just lie about your name on the survey, it’s that easy. Or don’t take it at all.
Its called an ip address and they are very trackable.
March 1st, 2006 at 2:25 amMinnesota Republican Party collects citizen data directly…
Minnesota Public Radio broke a story (picked up by Slashdot) about a DVD mailing campaign by the Republican Party of……
March 1st, 2006 at 2:45 amWho cares what Minnesota does as a State > less than a million people live there and probably dairy cows outnumber them > lol. GOP goons probably do cow tipping for fun > lol.
March 1st, 2006 at 2:49 amThe problem is that there is no way to confirm that the views expressed are actually the views of the person the CD was mailed to. Anyone in that household could pick up the CD and play it and answer the questions. So really, all the GOP would be able to say is that someone in your household approves of abortion etc. But yes, legislation would be needed, but even most privacy legislation, like telemarketing, politicians build free ‘outs’ for political, non-profit and religious orgs. Holes you can drive a truck through.
March 1st, 2006 at 3:08 amOh My God and if the questions ask whether you smoke in the privacy of our own home can you lose your job too?!!!
Whats the republican party comin to?
Next thing you know there’ll be erased white house tapes too?
Oh the humanity?
Freekin republican hacks just do not get it!
“Democrtas dont let friends hunt with republican’s” bumper stickers next?
March 1st, 2006 at 3:19 amI’m sorry, but I fail to see the problem. They send you a cd that contains a questionnaire, you answer it and send it back. Isn’t that exactly what a questionnaire is supposed to do? If you don’t want to answer it, just don’t answer it.
March 1st, 2006 at 4:24 amSorry, the law says that the Terms of Agreement must state that information is being sent. Period. It is spyware.
March 1st, 2006 at 4:37 amSpudge if non-repugs took the CD to an internet cafe, or library that would provide interesting data for the Minnisota GOP to mine, just a thought….
March 1st, 2006 at 5:02 amI live in Minnesota and can’t wait to get the cd so I can send it back to Repub. HQ in a million pieces. You pricks are going down in Nov.
March 1st, 2006 at 5:08 amBuzzbomb fill it out at an internet cafe or library, with a funny name and info, one of the best ways to stop these people is to send them back junk, I always send everything back to my state GOP in the prepaid envelope but sans any money. They finally stopped sending me anything.
March 1st, 2006 at 5:18 am[…] Polinaut stepped on a landmine. Prepare for a weekend slot on AM1280’s Northern Alliance. God forbid that Kos links to you as well. BTW: You should really read Polinaut every day. It’s a very good local blog. We highly recommend it. BTW: Here’s a report on the CD that set all of this off. Here’s a report on the big money coming into the state in anticipation of the anti-gay marriage fight. […]
March 1st, 2006 at 7:20 amNot too surprising. It fits the Minnesota GOP profile of sneaky stealth. Minnesota is a Republican target state. We have a newish governor and a newish senator who practically load Rove or Cheney’s email into their daily planner and it’s clear the GOP think they can tip this traditionally democratic state Republican if they work it right. The local AirAmericaRadio has reported on some voting and election issues with the Republican Secretary as well but Minnesota isn’t exactly a Florida or Ohio yet.
March 1st, 2006 at 7:23 amWrong category: in Minnesota, the Republican party is not the “Corrupt Establishment”.
March 1st, 2006 at 8:01 amFrom the article and what I’ve read on the internet, not only was this CD not something that has actually been sent out, but rather, something only provided to media outlets. Additionally, the “information” that is gathered is information provided within the application - which runs as a web presentation. So the session remains anonymous, and, since it is online, (as all of you are currently), the tracking of responses is completely valid (is is tracked by many sites) INCLUDING THIS ONE!
March 1st, 2006 at 8:40 amNot to mention the fact that this site - REQUIRES YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS when posting.
March 1st, 2006 at 8:59 am#51: Your an idiot!!! Republican & Libertarion, that’s like saying your half man half women. Also, You have the nerve to call the people of Minnesota backwoods, when you don’t even know the correct way to spell Minnesota(Minisota & Minnasota), it surprises me that you even know that Minnesota is a state & not a tiny cup of Pepsi!!!
March 1st, 2006 at 10:38 amYou claim to know the facts, when your not even educated enough to know how to spell simple words like every(evrey), important(imporant), & believe(belive). The facts are that this is just another example of the GOPs hunger for complete power, another example is the hijacking of the California govenership, & the attempt in Washington state to do the same thing. Yet you would have us believe that it is just localized to Minnesota. As uneducated as you seem it makes me think that this post was actually posted by GW himself.
Wolfie,
Before throwing stones, please use a few English reference books to validate your own spelling, grammar, and capitalization. “Your” is posessive, “You’re” is the correct contraction for “You are.” “You” is only capitalized at the beginning of a sentence. Finally, “governor” is the correct spelling, and hence “governorship” would also be correct.
Seriously, if you’re going to invoke “ad hominem,” at least make it worthwhile!
March 1st, 2006 at 11:19 am[…] To anyone who’s been tenacious enough to keep up with my various sites over the years, you’d know that I love playing with out State Motto, “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. And a recent report filed by Minnesota Public Radio, and publicized a bit more by ThinkProgress, about some GOP CDs being mailed out gives me yet another reason to bastardize it. The problem – the CD sends your answers back to headquarters, filed by name, address, and political views. No mention of that in the terms of use. No privacy policy at all. The story concludes: “So if you run the CD in your personal computer, by the end of it, the Minnesota GOP will not only know what you think on particular issues, but also who you are.†[…]
March 1st, 2006 at 11:20 amSo how do I get my hands on an image of this CD? I’m an IT professional and would love to disect it. I’d like to stuff thier survey database full of random information.
Anyone care to set up a bittorrent or post a URL link?
March 1st, 2006 at 12:12 pmThe idea of sticking a CD published by the GOP in my PC is about the same to me as chewing on a half-eaten hotdog I found on the ground at the state fair.
March 1st, 2006 at 12:23 pm[…] Minnesota in the News - GOP Spyware CD By Lee “This week the Minnesota Republican Party is distributing a new CD about a proposed state marriage amendment. Along with flashy graphics, the CD asks people their views on controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, illegal immigration, and so on. […]
March 1st, 2006 at 12:43 pmWhat I’m amazed at is all the righties saying how stupid it is to not know what the software would do when you’re done.
According to the article, there are no instructions, so there’s hit #1. Second, why would people necessarily think it’s going to transmit their information on not print off their results to be mailed to someone? Sure, it may not be in line with the whole electronic version of a survey, but it’s still a possiblity. Hell, when I register software I buy, it still gives options on how to send it before it just does it!
March 1st, 2006 at 1:15 pm#93
Wow, you really nailed this site by stating that it requires such personal info as an e-mail address. Gee, I guess TP knows everything else about me from a public e-mail address anyone can setup with real or fake information.
I personally use a legit e-mail address here, but who says you need to type a real one in? or even that it’s yours?
March 1st, 2006 at 1:18 pmMN GOP Is Information Mining…
By way of minvolved to Think Progress I found this little gem: MPR: Polinaut: GOP CD accumulates data, but data is not secured Now that’s pretty basic stuff: what your IP is, what your CPU is, what your operating system……
March 1st, 2006 at 1:21 pmTricky. Tricky. Tricky….
I find it really hard to believe that ANY political party would try this stunt. I’d be all over this report, no matter WHICH party pulled it!…
March 1st, 2006 at 2:09 pm[…] The Minnesota GOP’s Stealth Attack On Privacy Republican spyware with no privacy policy (tags: surveillance politics power spyware) […]
March 1st, 2006 at 2:25 pm[…] Now THIS is a new one! Think Progress » The Minnesota GOP’s Stealth Attack On Privacy This week the Minnesota Republican Party is distributing a new CD about a proposed state marriage amendment. Along with flashy graphics, the CD asks people their views on controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, illegal immigration, and so on. […]
March 1st, 2006 at 2:28 pm[…] The problem—the CD sends your answers back to headquarters, filed by name, address, and political views. No mention of that in the terms of use. No privacy policy at all. The story concludes: “So if you run the CD in your personal computer, by the end of it, the Minnesota GOP will not only know what you think on particular issues, but also who you are.” Think Progress � The Minnesota GOP%u2019s Stealth Attack On Privacy […]
March 1st, 2006 at 2:41 pmYes yes yes. Save the people from themselves. People should not be tricked into accidentally providing answers to public policy questions. Clearly Rove is behind this, and Haliburton. The Saudi’s are probably involved too….
At least I know that TP is gathering and using this information for its own purposes: from the Terms of Use:
“…You acknowledge and agree that the information and materials presented on or through the Blog will remain the property of APAF and its licensors or providers, and are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, and/or other proprietary rights and related laws, rules and regulations. …”
And then this from the TP Privacy Policy (incorporated into the ToU) “…From time to time, we may send you information from other like-minded organizations whose products or services we think subscribers might find interesting, but we do not exchange, trade, rent, or give email lists to unaffiliated third parties. …”
I wonder why TP has not looked into or posted any ToU or Similar disclaimers that are part of the DVD or it’s packaging.
March 1st, 2006 at 2:45 pmMuch ado about [what could have been something but is] Nothing. From the MPR site, “…We don’t yet know what the “final CD” is going to have on it or what the wording is going to be to make clear to the participant what and how the data is being used…. “
March 1st, 2006 at 2:58 pmthese pathetic tards have been at it for a while!
March 1st, 2006 at 2:58 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ articles/ A58309-2004Jul17.html
Oh, boy! Once the EEF/tech crowd get hold of this, it’ll be interesting to see the self-professed “libertarians” squirm. Are they REALLY libertarians, or are they just Republicans who like to smoke pot?
March 1st, 2006 at 3:33 pmYeah! Only Big Brother right wing wackos would be interested in gathering political views so that representation has a chance. They’re not going to get MY views. That way I can complain and moan about how he’s not MY President and they’re not MY Senators and Representatives.
Spot on! Sink ‘em.
March 1st, 2006 at 4:13 pm“Yeah! Only Big Brother right wing wackos would be interested in gathering political views so that representation has a chance. They’re not going to get MY views. That way I can complain and moan about how he’s not MY President and they’re not MY Senators and Representatives.
Spot on! Sink ‘em.”
The problem here is that the software operates without telling you what it is doing. from a user perspective this bothers me immensely. beyond that the data that was being transmitted back wasnt encrypted on the site, so it was free for anyone to access, and since the questions asked were retrieved from the website, someone could have altered the questions or required forms to specify information more pertinent to what they want (at least according to polinaut), so what this is is a security hole.
March 1st, 2006 at 4:37 pmWhile i think there are larger implications for the nation as politics starts to catch up to where the advertisers and retailers are, in this case its bad coding, bad design, and a general bad idea to use this system.
Remember the poster of J. Edgar Hoover with huge, oversized ears? The caption was ‘Sh-h-h-h, someone’s listening!”
March 1st, 2006 at 4:40 pmHow ’bout the same with the GOP mascot? Or Bush? Or Cheney?
Please, Dick, take George hunting.
Beware of Republicans bearing free CD’s!…
This has been gaining traction around the ‘net, but in case you haven’t seen it yet, Think Progress came out with this somewhat disturbing revelation: A story by Minnesota Public Radio reveals a disturbing new way that a political party is secretly g…
March 1st, 2006 at 7:40 pmFrom a completely politically neutral standpoint, there is something which must be said. Please feel free to reflect on my point here because it is something everyone should read and think logically about - as a voting citizen of this country.
We spend day after day, reading and witnessing news and opinions from “the talking heads“, and feel that our vote should matter. We listen and grow weary of the thoughts and decisions made by those people who we have elected (either by majority or simple popularity). We pine over the ridiculous issues which don’t truly affect our own lives. Yet, when “big brother” is INTERESTED in our point of view as a private citizen, we BALK.
It is in my humble opinion as a voting citizen that even when I do not agree with the views of the opposition, or rather, of the political party which is in control of both my state and my country. If said party desires my opinion either via a public or private forum, I should not only provide my TRUE view of the topics, but also - and more importantly - JUMP AT THE CHANCE to let them know my full and complete opinion.
With that in mind, I am unnerved when my telephone rings and a marketing firm as trying to sell me some pile of donkey food which I do not need or want. And, at the same level, I am tired of the constant advertising and marketing to me online, on television, and everywhere I go. However, when I receive a call from a polling entity, specifically funded or requested by the political parties, I go out OUT OF MY WAY to answer the surveys truthfully and completely, regardless of how much time I am missing, revolving around in my own little world, because, they are there to REPRESENT MY OPINION AND VOTE.
Finally, while it is indeed annoying to answer these surveys, there is no - and I repeat a resounding - NO REASON for me to JEST their request of my view. Unless the information they are asking is illicit, or is a private topic (like how much money my household makes, which of course, they already know because they have both demographic and geographic information. But because they also have my tax forms).
Please, before you throw out your burning flags and turn your asses upwind towards Capital Hill - think about the reasoning behind the polling - rather than the horrible waste of your time (and apparently your opinions) because you would prefer that they not know what YOU THINK.
(And of course, all of this because they don’t read this tiny forum)
March 1st, 2006 at 7:57 pmKevin. That’s an insightful comment. The problem is it’s not what my original poking around was about. My effort was to suggest that people should be told when you’re extracting information from them. That’s all. Not that getting it from them is necessarily bad. But they should have the option of giving it to you.
Now I’ve seen in several blog posts that people should know. Indeed, the position of the GOP and the people who made the CD is the word “interactive” suffices for a privacy notice. I don’t think it does, frankly.
IN fact, the person who made the Flash presentation said words like SUBMIT and CONTINUE also qualify as notices that the information is being extracted and transmitted. In a Flash environment, that’s EXTREMELY presumptuous and someone who’s in the business of making Flash prsentation knows that.
Interactivity in Flash is I give you something, you give me something back. In this case, it just as easily could be a part of the presentation. If a question pops up in a lobbying CD Flash presentation, I might equally assume that when I press SUBMIT, that the program content is going to respond to that. So we’re not talking about someone “filling out a form.”
Furthermore, the data being extracted is NOT limited to the answers you provide. It’s what you looked out and how long you considered a question before answering. It’s also your name, and your address.
And to make matters worse, that data was viewable by me.
YOu didn’t put your last name in your post. You didn’t put your address or phone number. You didn’t write down exactly how you voed. And you didn’t because you CHOSE not to. If properly informed, I think people can make those choices and frankly I don’t care what they are. I do care whether they’re given the information to make the choice.
The irony of this is this CD that’s being sent out is abot a same-sex marriage ban in Minnesota that the GOP wants sent to the Senate floor for a vote. In the packaging, it says in big letter, “shouldn’t you have the right to decide.” Gosh, that’s a good question. Shouldn’t you. And shouldn’t the people who stick this CD in their computer have the right to know that they’re about to open up personal information to someone else AND that the data is available (or was until I pointed it out) to people like you…or me?
Let’s be real here. The reason these folks are saying that terms like SUBMIT and CONTINUE constitute a privacy notification, is because they know that IF they were to tell people that personal data was being extracted, they wouldn’t provide it. And so the logical alternative…was not to tell them.
THAT is the issue that people are missing.
March 1st, 2006 at 11:43 pm[…] The Minnesota GOP’s Stealth Attack On Privacy describes a CD that you put into your computer. It contains a survey which collects not only your answers but also your identity. Worse, the privacy policy contains no guarantees whatsoever about how that information will be used or protected. This week the Minnesota Republican Party is distributing a new CD about a proposed state marriage amendment. Along with flashy graphics, the CD asks people their views on controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, illegal immigration, and so on. […]
March 2nd, 2006 at 8:53 amIsn’t this just illegal? Doesn’t sound right to me!
March 2nd, 2006 at 10:52 am[…] “Columnist Peter Swire has exposed the dangers of this invasion of privacy: ‘Without a privacy policy, the state party can tell your views to anyone at all. If you give the “wrong†answers on abortion or other issues, they can tell your boss, members of your church or anyone else. In fact, these answers could get distributed to campaigns in your town during get-out-the-vote efforts precisely the place where “wrong†answers can be most damaging.’ (For the entire column) “By not enclosing a privacy policy with their CD-ROM, they have at least shown an unconscionable disrespect for basic privacy concerns, and at worst have broken the law. […]
March 2nd, 2006 at 1:01 pm[…] Thinkprogress.org is reporting on a story in which the GOP is sending CDs to voters. CDs that secretly report personal information and answers to survey questions back to home base (no doubt a server in some secret sub-level of a church) using illegal software knows as spyware or malware — PC users, you know what I’m talking about. The only problem is that the user is never warned that this information transfer is taking place. This week the Minnesota Republican Party is distributing a new CD about a proposed state marriage amendment. Along with flashy graphics, the CD asks people their views on controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, illegal immigration, and so on. […]
March 2nd, 2006 at 2:31 pmOK…now where’s the line to join the lawsuit? Hurry up!
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[…] File this under the category of very bad ideas not to repeat. In an attempt to fire up their partisan base, the Minnesota Republican Party recently sent out a CD in support of a ban on gay marriage. It also collected detailed information about anyone who opened the CD and sent it back to State Party Headquarters (via an unsecured server mind you) without asking for permission. […]
March 3rd, 2006 at 11:10 amThis is why I am not a democrat anymore. You people have completely lost it. Why do you always have to go off the deep end? This CD may have been a bad idea, but it is hardly a full out assault on privacy and civil rights. How is this different that me giving a donation to the dems or signing a petition and then getting more phone calls and mail from them or any other non-profit a few weeks later. Where was their ‘privacy’ statement? I’m am sure it their database somewhere and I never gave permission for anything. Why can’t you people see this for what is, just a bad idea. Why do you always think everything is an evil plot from big brother… I swear to God… you all need meds.
March 7th, 2006 at 1:27 pm[…] The Minnesota GOPÂ’s Stealth Attack On Privacy: This week the Minnesota Republican Party is distributing a new CD about a proposed state marriage amendment. Along with flashy graphics, the CD asks people their views on controversial issues such as abortion, gun control, illegal immigration, and so on.The problem — the CD sends your answers back to headquarters, filed by name, address, and political views. No mention of that in the terms of use. No privacy policy at all. The story concludes: “So if you run the CD in your personal computer, by the end of it, the Minnesota GOP will not only know what you think on particular issues, but also who you are.” tags: thinkprogress, GOP, minnesota, republican, privacy, data mining […]
March 11th, 2006 at 9:20 pm[…] Minnesota Republicans send spyware into people’s homes. That’s it, folks, if you are given anything by a Republican, don’t touch it! Burn it, immediately! […]
March 30th, 2006 at 2:47 pm[…] Third article: Minnesotan Republicans are mining data from voters without consent using a CD-based survey. […]
April 6th, 2006 at 11:21 pm[…] Update: I was referring to this article. […]
November 2nd, 2006 at 4:39 pm[…] Peter Swire guest-posted a story at Think Progress about the collection and exploitation of private information by the Minnesota Republican Party: A story by Minnesota Public Radio reveals a disturbing new way that a political party is secretly grabbing sensitive personal information about voters. […]
December 2nd, 2006 at 1:33 amI’m not much for democratic action, really. Truth be told.
Republicans wouldn’t be so smug, so sneaky or so bold if they had to worry about getting shot in the back of the head. To be honest, I think that is one way in which the Iraqis are superior to us. They’re willing to die, and their willing to kill for their beliefs.
I wish Americans were more like that. It would be entertaining to watch news stories about political violance in American each night on CNN, with a new Republican or Democrat getting killed one way or another. THAT would be good TV.
Personally I can’t see a HumV on the road and wonder what it would be like to fire an RPG at it - Ka BOOM ! tires & body parts flying all over the place. Since the Republicans seem to be so concerned about war, well let’s show them what it’s like, up close and personal.
I wonder how “moral” their political positions would be if they determined THEIR OWN life or death ?
Ka - BOOM ! ! Still have that image of the HumV blowing up, soccer balls & body parts flying about. With the little “W” sticker on the back window.
They *want* that whole “military” fashion chic, so give it to them.
December 24th, 2006 at 1:24 am[…] http://thinkblogger.org/web2.php http://thinkprogress.org/ 2006/ 02/ 28/ the-minnesota-gops-stealth-attack-on-privacy/ http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/21/santorum-wmd/ […]
March 16th, 2008 at 9:38 pm