“Voter Surveillance Instrument of Extraordinary Power”
The smartphone app of the Trump campaign followed the movements of millions of supporters of the president, gave the campaign an “intimate” view of the users’ social networks and provided huge amounts of data that Trump can use for a wide variety of purposes in the future.
“The app enables Trump’s team to communicate directly with the 2.8 million people who have downloaded it – more than any other app in a US presidential campaign – and, if given permission, with their entire contact list Reports the Associated Press.
“Once installed, it can track their behavior in the app and in the physical world, spread headlines, collect donations, sell MAGA merchandise and sync with bulk SMS operations in accordance with the app’s privacy policy and user interface.”
CBS News reported earlier this year that the campaign’s app enabled it to “collect very detailed information about a person’s movements.”
The AP notes that while the campaign may be over, the “data strategy is very much alive and the digital details the app has gathered can be used for several other purposes – to raise funds for the president’s future political endeavors To strengthen Trump’s base or even build an audience for a new media empire. “
In June, MIT Technology Review called the Trump campaign app “a voter surveillance tool of extraordinary power.”
The app has “location-based tools and other features that help the campaign attract new users,” notes the AP, adding that there is a “gamified loyalty system” where backers can earn points to use for signed MAGA – Hand out hats or pose for a picture with Trump. “
The app is still available for download.
“With the latest update, you can join the official army for Trump,” says the iPhone version.
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