Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms
NationBuilder connects voters, politicians, volunteers and staffers in an integrated digital system. Political parties across the globe use it to manage data and campaigns. Unlike most political technology providers, NationBuilder is nonpartisan and sells to anyone. Given recent controversy around p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Internet Policy Review |
| Online Access: | https://policyreview.info/node/1439 |
| _version_ | 1818977762438807552 |
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| author | Fenwick McKelvey |
| author_facet | Fenwick McKelvey |
| author_sort | Fenwick McKelvey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | NationBuilder connects voters, politicians, volunteers and staffers in an integrated digital system. Political parties across the globe use it to manage data and campaigns. Unlike most political technology providers, NationBuilder is nonpartisan and sells to anyone. Given recent controversy around political technology, this paper looks for empirical examples of questionable use. Drawing on a 2017 scan of NationBuilder installations globally, the study identifies three questionable uses as: (1) a mobilisation tool for hate or groups targeting cultural or ethnic identities, (2) a profiling tool for deceptive advertising or stealth media, and (3) a fundraising tool for entrepreneurial journalism. These questionable uses may require NationBuilder to revise its ‘Acceptable Usage Policy’ and raises broader questions about the responsibilities of political technology firms to liberal democracy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:32:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7d3e2bd93af43eb9db085d585491d32 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-6775 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:32:54Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Policy Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7d3e2bd93af43eb9db085d585491d322022-12-21T19:33:14ZengAlexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and SocietyInternet Policy Review2197-67752019-12-01Volume 8Issue 410.14763/2019.4.1439Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platformsFenwick McKelvey0Concordia UniversityNationBuilder connects voters, politicians, volunteers and staffers in an integrated digital system. Political parties across the globe use it to manage data and campaigns. Unlike most political technology providers, NationBuilder is nonpartisan and sells to anyone. Given recent controversy around political technology, this paper looks for empirical examples of questionable use. Drawing on a 2017 scan of NationBuilder installations globally, the study identifies three questionable uses as: (1) a mobilisation tool for hate or groups targeting cultural or ethnic identities, (2) a profiling tool for deceptive advertising or stealth media, and (3) a fundraising tool for entrepreneurial journalism. These questionable uses may require NationBuilder to revise its ‘Acceptable Usage Policy’ and raises broader questions about the responsibilities of political technology firms to liberal democracy.https://policyreview.info/node/1439 |
| spellingShingle | Fenwick McKelvey Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms Internet Policy Review |
| title | Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms |
| title_full | Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms |
| title_fullStr | Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms |
| title_short | Cranks, clickbait and cons: on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms |
| title_sort | cranks clickbait and cons on the acceptable use of political engagement platforms |
| url | https://policyreview.info/node/1439 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fenwickmckelvey cranksclickbaitandconsontheacceptableuseofpoliticalengagementplatforms |