4 ms·

>The second paragraph of the article explains quite clearly that these apps display only the fact of a ballot having been cast, not the votes. No, that is not

by daenz 8y ago

>The second paragraph of the article explains quite clearly that these apps display only the fact of a ballot having been cast, not the votes. No, that is not the only thing these apps display. From the article: >depending on the state, it can include details like their name, address, phone number and party affiliation and when they voted. Emphasis mine. And if you don't think party affiliation is a big deal, then you haven't been listening to the rhetoric used to describe the parties lately.

SolaceQuantum 8y ago
Party affiliation is already public record in many states. I don’t understand the concern.
- tk75x 8y ago
  It's one thing for it to be public record where every person who wants to know has to make the effort to look it up. It's a different scenario entirely when thousands of people have access to that information via an easy-to-use app. Now, the likelihood of someone in your social group who disapproves of your political beliefs finding out is much higher. I believe we are all entitled to our privacy and shouldn't be singled out for things like political party affiliation.
  - mikeash 8y ago
    Lobby your state government to make that information secret, or end official party affiliation altogether. In the age of ubiquitous internet access, it’s no longer reasonable to expect any publicly available information to remain obscure.
    - belorn 8y ago
      Here in Sweden there has been several alternatives which all puts barriers in front of public information in order to prevent it being accessible through the internet. One method is to simply not allow people to copy it. I can go to the department and request the information, but I can't leave the building with any digital or physical copy (photoing inside is forbidden). Technically within the legal definition of public information. The other method is using copyright to grant permission for private use but not distribution, which mean no one has permission to put the public information online. That way its publicly available to request from the department but it will not be published online. The third method is not really a method but simply relying on the gdpr. The information may be public but there are still legal limits on the kind of databases people may have about private information.
thrmsforbfast 8y ago
I agree with parent that this whole thread comes off as extremely hyperbolic. I've known this information about my friends and neighbors for the better part of the last decade. In most states this is public info and you can even look it up from a web form using name, zip, and dob. But now it's in an app so the world is ending.

by daenz 8y ago

SolaceQuantum 8y ago

Party affiliation is already public record in many states. I don’t understand the concern.

tk75x 8y ago
It's one thing for it to be public record where every person who wants to know has to make the effort to look it up. It's a different scenario entirely when thousands of people have access to that information via an easy-to-use app. Now, the likelihood of someone in your social group who disapproves of your political beliefs finding out is much higher. I believe we are all entitled to our privacy and shouldn't be singled out for things like political party affiliation.
- mikeash 8y ago
  Lobby your state government to make that information secret, or end official party affiliation altogether. In the age of ubiquitous internet access, it’s no longer reasonable to expect any publicly available information to remain obscure.
  - belorn 8y ago
    Here in Sweden there has been several alternatives which all puts barriers in front of public information in order to prevent it being accessible through the internet. One method is to simply not allow people to copy it. I can go to the department and request the information, but I can't leave the building with any digital or physical copy (photoing inside is forbidden). Technically within the legal definition of public information. The other method is using copyright to grant permission for private use but not distribution, which mean no one has permission to put the public information online. That way its publicly available to request from the department but it will not be published online. The third method is not really a method but simply relying on the gdpr. The information may be public but there are still legal limits on the kind of databases people may have about private information.

thrmsforbfast 8y ago

I agree with parent that this whole thread comes off as extremely hyperbolic. I've known this information about my friends and neighbors for the better part of the last decade. In most states this is public info and you can even look it up from a web form using name, zip, and dob. But now it's in an app so the world is ending.