Your phone and TV are tracking you, and political campaigns are listening in

LA Times ^ | February 20, 2019 | Evan Halper

[Perseverando]

It was a crowded primary field and Tony Evers, running for governor, was eager to win the support of officials gathered at a Wisconsin state Democratic Party meeting, so the candidate did all the usual things: He read the room, he shook hands, he networked.

Then he put an electronic fence around everyone there.

The digital fence enabled Evers’ team to push ads onto the iPhones and Androids of all those attending the meeting. Not only that, but because the technology pulled the unique identification numbers off the phones, a data broker could also use the digital signatures to follow the devices home. Once there, the campaign could use so-called cross-device tracking technology to find associated laptops, desktops and other devices to push even more ads.

Welcome to the new frontier of campaign tech — a loosely regulated world in which simply downloading a weather app or game, connecting to Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or powering up a home router can allow a data broker to monitor your movements with ease, then compile the location information and sell it to a political candidate who can use it to surround you with messages.

“We can put a pin on a building, and if you are in that building, we are going to get you,” said Democratic strategist Dane Strother, who advised Evers. And they can get you even if you aren’t in the building anymore, but were simply there at some point in the last six months.

Campaigns don’t match the names of voters with the personal information they scoop up — although that could be possible in many cases. Instead, they use the information to micro-target ads to appear on phones and other devices based on individual profiles that show where a voter goes, whether a gun range,

[Perseverando]

And all this time while everyone was telling me I was being paranoid, somebody really was watching me /Sarc

[dfwgator]

In America, Television Watches You.

[entropy12]

Does that mean I can not prance around naked in my apartment?

[griffin]

I can have my hi-fi stereo blaring and my phone can discriminate my voice. My phone keys on my voice. Scary.

[EinNYC]

Can a law be enacted to outlaw this practice? This is really invasion of privacy.

[TChad]

The digital fence enabled Evers’ team to push ads onto the iPhones and Androids of all those attending the meeting.

So my ancient but still functional Windows phone would have been immune.

Good.

[Texas Fossil]

Yep, and they even bug your power meter.

The new “smart TV’s” report every program you watch and all the videos you play and I suspect even what you watch off of the air on TV.

I hate them. But that is how they can sell a flat screen TV for $150, they sell your data.

[yarddog]

I noticed several months ago that my cell phone was tracking me and they were making no secret of it. For me personally, I don’t care, it might even help me.

I do think it is a huge mistake for them to be able to do it tho. I do think we have a right to privacy.

BTW privacy has absolutely nothing to do with abortion.

[b4me]

prance? are you trying out for a sleigh spot?

[redfreedom]

If you drive a GM or Ford vehicle with GPS, your movements can be tracked. I do not know about Chrysler/Ram vehicles.

[2CAVTrooper]

“they even bug your power meter.”

BS

[sanjuanbob]

I can see you. Put some clothes on or shut off your monitor.

[yarddog]

I guess technically, I gave them permission when I installed their app. Still I have no doubt they could do it anyway if they wanted.

[fini]

"I can see you. Put some clothes on or shut off your monitor."

No, no, no. He needs to continue, because I am live streaming it on Youtube and getting a lot of hits.

[bigbob]

We have to holler “F Trump!” every once in a while so our devices know we’re one of the good guys /s

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

BS

No. Not really. It has been an issue in some communities when power companies swap out old meters with new smart meters that report back to the power company. Only data from power usage and such. I think that's what Texas Fossil meant.

[entropy12]

Man..what is this world coming to? Can’t even shed all clothes in hot & humid Florida!

[entropy12]

Believe me at age 78, I am in Joan Rivers league when she is used to joke her body needs ironing LOL..

[867V309]

Instead, they use the information to micro-target ads to appear on phones and other devices

elementary privacy procedures can largely defeat this stuff, but you have to know how to do it.      antivirus is low on the list, but do it anyway because it's easy.

blacklist social networks, turn off javascript except for places you must trust (and cookies likewise), screen cellphone apps and watch their permissions (why does a flashlight app want access to my contacts?), use a VPN if you access password protected places from un-trusted wifi.

obviously, use a long, random password for your wifi, open all email in text (not HTML) format, NEVER open email attachments unless you already know what they are, never click email links to do financial or password protected transactions (phishing).

[867V309]

The new “smart TV’s” report every program you watch and all the videos you play and I suspect even what you watch off of the air on TV.

I hate them. But that is how they can sell a flat screen TV for $150, they sell your data.

I got a 55 inch stupid from walmart for $260, cheaper than any of the smart. btw, picture is beautiful.