While this seems like a great idea, their privacy policy [1] has me slightly worried:
> We collect and use the personal directory data on your device to provide
the App’s functionality, to improve our services, and in some instances, to contact you.
This directory data includes, but is not limited to information in your address book such
as your contact record IDs, contact names, phone numbers, and email addresses. The
App will not collect your contacts’ addresses or zip code. By downloading the App, you
consent to our use of this data.
So they won't collect addresses or zip code (why are those separate?). That means they likely will collect name & phone number (which, if landline, means they have address as well), and any other information in the contact card (relationship, company, job title, etc). I would want to see the vast majority of that anonymized–or, better yet, not collected at all–before I'd consent to using this.
So yeah, great idea, but don't be data-greedy. No thanks.
"The VoteWithMe app provides you with the top 10 contacts from your address book who we're worried won't turn out to vote."
Earlier in the line it is: "based on the likelihood that they support progressive candidates"
So, we have a group claiming to be civic minded, but will only encourage the "correct" individuals in your phone book to vote; those individuals who are not supporting the correct candidates, we will not encourage them to vote.
These guys probably have access to the Obama Path to Victory database or something similar and are using this to engage contacts through direct interaction.
This is getting sick, literally tens of thousands facebook bots spamming propaganda comments and upvoting each others to the top of the normal persons viewport on majority of related subjects.
> We collect and use the personal directory data on your device to provide the App’s functionality, to improve our services, and in some instances, to contact you. This directory data includes, but is not limited to information in your address book such as your contact record IDs, contact names, phone numbers, and email addresses. The App will not collect your contacts’ addresses or zip code. By downloading the App, you consent to our use of this data.
So they won't collect addresses or zip code (why are those separate?). That means they likely will collect name & phone number (which, if landline, means they have address as well), and any other information in the contact card (relationship, company, job title, etc). I would want to see the vast majority of that anonymized–or, better yet, not collected at all–before I'd consent to using this.
So yeah, great idea, but don't be data-greedy. No thanks.
[1]: http://www.civicinnovation.com/img/VoteWithMePP.pdf