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SINN FÉIN HAS denied it is “microtargeting” people using data collected from Facebook and the electoral register.
Eoin Ó Broin said the party’s system of using public information about voters is “fully compliant” with the law.
Sinn Féin has responded to the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) after it sought information about how it uses its database and information collected from social media.
Commissioner Helen Dixon wrote to the party seeking confirmation about its Abu system and whether it is GDPR compliant.
Ó Broin said the party has provided full responses to all the questions.
“Our view is we’re fully compliant with the Data Protection Act of 2018,” he added.
“What we do with the electoral register is what any professional party does, we use the register to target our voters, and to ensure we get our vote out on election day – that is legally permissible under the Data Protection Act.
“We’ve responded to the Data Protection Commissioner, and if she has any concerns or if she has any suggested improvements to our system, of course we’ll be glad to take those on board.
“We have to comply with the law and we believe we are fully compliant with the law, and the Data Protection Commissioner has asked us a series of questions and we’ve answered those.
“Then we’ll all listen very carefully to what she has to say.
“I’m sure we’d be willing to share that with (the media) so you can have full sight of that.”
It was revealed by the Sunday Independent that party officials are being told to use personal information posted online to establish the address of a potential voter.
Ó Broin also refused to confirm which country within the European Union the database is kept.
“We don’t have to say what country within the European Union it is but it has to be stored within the European Union,” he added.
The party’s housing spokesman likened their complex data system to using pen and paper before digital registers were introduced.
“This isn’t something new. This is a professional way of going about elections, and any information that we have is fully consistent with the Data Protection Act of 2018, and so it should be,” he added.
“We don’t pay anything for the system, we don’t charge anybody for the system. It’s an electoral register system, a digital database that we use just like we used to use pen and paper before we had access to digital technology.
“What we use the electoral register for is what every political party knows their job is, which is to engage with the electorate, target your vote and get them out.”
He added: “There are our claims that we are data mining from Facebook. It is not true. Any information I get from anybody on Facebook, they give it to me consensually – I asked him for it, they provide it – and I use that data for the purposes it’s provided, as the law requires.”
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What is this about, is this some attempt to again try to throw some mud at SF.
We were told not so long ago that the Government was tracking, monitoring and storing data of peoples views on the likes of Facebook and Twitter.
Surely in this day and age all Political Parties have an electoral database of their supporters and voters and if this is stored in the so-called cloud then unless you have some very specific contract that info can be stored in any DataCentre in Europe
@Da Dell: Just read a few articles on the Independent site all trying to spin something that is not. Plus the usual deflect to SF when news about Leos interview with the Gardai came out .Trying to spin now what Facebook Advertisers do every day as bad if a Political Party do it, FG were the original masters of this and somehow do not like when others do what they do, some articles written by Philip Ryan the co author of Leos book ..
@Da Dell: Ah lads seems like about 10 articles in the spindo over the weekend about this lol. Should we all now ask all the Political Parties the same questions or what ?
@Da Dell: SF doing nothing Bertie wasn’t doing 30 years ago. Only difference is Berties gang used pen & paper whereas SF have laptops.
@Justin Gillespie: All Parties do it Justin, even your beloved FG who topped the spend on FB advertising last GE.
https://www.thejournal.ie/facebook-ad-spend-ge2020-2-4984249-Jan2020/
@Da Dell: That’s the very point I was making.
@Justin Gillespie: No it was not, it was your usual of mentioning some parties but not FG, you mentioned only SF and FF.
It was FG and specifically Leo who wanted to created fake online a/c’s, It was Leo who re-hired Concannon, who was let go after the Spin Unit was shut down, at the start of the Pandemic to boost the his image during the pandemic, almost the first thing he done and that says it all about Leo. It was FG who spent more that anyone else in FB advertising last election, who did they advertise too, who was targeted in that advertising, how did they identify who to target ? When while the media investigate FG and its use of Social Media ?
@Da Dell: now that you’ve gotten all that off your chest, do you condemn it or condone it?
@Da Dell: does it really need to be spelled out? political parties used the register to focus on clusters of potential voters, like every party before and after them. SF, with their unique recent past, are copying this data or of the country, and allowing all members on both sides of the border to access, enhance and use it to target individual households. ridiculous discussion that there is something normal in the way SF operate.
as an example, if you knew roisin shortall had your house on a list with a Y/N on it, would you be in fear? if you had the guys that killed Paul Quinn canvassing your estate in drogheda with a website and an X next to your name, would you be in fear?
@Adrian O’Donnell: Condem or condone what exactly ?
@James Ward: WTF are you on about all Political Parties have databases of voters and potential voters ..
As for you particular question all parties are welcome to come to my door to canvas and I am more fearful of FG than any other party.
@Da Dell: Jesus Dell, calm down a bit. I was genuinely making the point that there was nothing in this “story”. SF did nothing here that all political parties do, I only referenced Bertie because he was the best known at it.
@Justin Gillespie: Am perfectly calm. you mentioned SF and FF and I added FG
@Justin Gillespie: Good to see you acknowledge that all political parties are doing this exact same thing and it’s a non-story Justin.
Nothing no other party doesn’t do. Fine Gale are the masters if this. There were several news articles about how the used social media in the last election.
@John Michalski: *they
I’d be utterly stunned if there wasn’t a political party doing it here. Targeted ads are a massive part of recent elections everywhere.
@JB: FG spent more than anyone else in FB advertising and Im sure that was targeted
https://www.thejournal.ie/facebook-ad-spend-ge2020-2-4984249-Jan2020/
@Da Dell: I saw that in the Sunday Unionist, I mean Independent too, but only bothered to read one o the articles. I have a sneaking feeling this might yet backfire on FG and FF. Voters are far more clued in these days and will see whats at play here.
The Sindo is really a bottom of the barrel rage these days. Ha, ha it still has that old dinosaur Eoin Bomber Harris with his weekly anti shinner rant. You could imagine him with fraught of hate dripping out of his mouth as his fingers hit the keyboard. Poor bitter man must have been around nearly as long the Duke Philip.
@Angela McCarthy: It still amazes me how the FG rags like the Spindo and the Journal keep attacking SF, they do not seem to notice that while they do that they also are attacking the people that voted for them which I reckon only convinces them more of the correctness of their decisions and driving more people to want to vote for SF. If the current and previous Govs have been so good for the Country surely they should concentrate on these good things they have done instead of the so called ‘Trumpian’ tactics they employ and deflect from themselves and attack SF. We have a new new Interns working for us, mots are from UCC and I have had some really interesting conversations with them, they are all very intelligent and very political, they dont buy into to the media sponsored spin and pr from FG at all. In fact they dont buy into that from any party and base their opinions on results not kite-flying & election promises that will be never honored. To be honest speaking to some of these has given me a renewed hope for Ireland and the miss-thinking of the Celtic Tiger generations seem to be a thing of the past.
@Da Dell: Agreed, but im not sure you can put the Journal into the same FG camp as the Sindo, at least, im just judging that by the number of SF supporting posters on these pages. Something tells me the people running the Journal get as much stick from FG who claim the publication is shinner run.
@Angela McCarthy: The Journal itself is pro FG and Leo, even one of its journalists is the co-author of the Leo book. They give Leo so many articles and they print his leaks almost instantly. Look at how the Journal has presented the Bobby Storey funeral for last 10 month or so compared to Leos stories of the rioting in NI, comments open the Storey Funeral and its PSNI investigation but closed on Leos and most of the Rioting. As for the comments at least there can be some balance and the narrative cannot be totally controlled there. As for the FGers complaining that the journal is Shinner run that is just ludicrous lol .. That seems like the usual FG cry wolf stuff.
Sure didn’t Leo wanted to create anonymous fake accounts on fb & Twitter to make FG look good, which would take a miracle at this stage!
Bertie Ahern summed it up well on the week in politics yesterday when he said it was nothing more than what he and has party did years ago, only that the computer has replaced the pen and paper now.
as for the face book thing or even this very forum, if SF, FG or FF reads some one on here speaking favorably about their party, surely they are going to try and check out and follow up on that person for a future vote, if they didnt, they wouldnt be doing their jobs.
there’s no secret agenda or conspiracy going on there and any party that says its not doing the same, is simply lying and spinning.
should we really be surprised that other parties are envious of the shinners who are out front of the pack?
@Angela McCarthy: I dont think anyone would begrudge SF using the data to get out their vote from targeting people who post favourably for SF on social media and even here. If this is all they are doing then thats dmfine and lawful. Where i believe people are worried is what are they doing with unfavourable posts and comments. Given SFs origins and certain sections of its support base and issues around mistrust of SF and who actually makes the decisions, people are right to be concerned.
@David Harold: Im sure they have my data as I voted for them the last time and Im sure that FF and FG also have mine and i voted for them in the past also. It was reported that the Gov was tracking and recording peoples views on Social Media, is that not concerning also ? Anyways the paste is out of the tube on Social Media, most people dont seem to give a damn about their privacy and are willing to let Corporations have all their private data to build profiles, advertise and try to sell them stuff.
Unfortunately these days once you put something online its basically in the public arena and others can do what the want with that info.
@Da Dell: “Given SFs origins”….. And FFGs origins are what?
@Fr. Fintan Stack: Ah I think that Mr Harold said that not me ..
@David Harold: David, not sure where you are coming from, but I dont think you really believe SF or any party for that matter would have the slightest interest in people who dont support or speak favourably about them online. Whats more, I dont believe any of the public figures who has criticised SF in the last week, really believe there is some hidden agenda. For example, what do you think of Alan Kelly’s comments of liking it to the cold war? What do you think he meant there – when SF comes to power they will round up all those who spoke ill of them on facebook and twitter and intern them in the Curragh camp?
Fortunately, people are buying all that oul crap anymore, and there is a reason why Alan Kelly’s party support is only on 4 or 5% in the polls. He might be better off focusing on the government and offering real alternative leadership.
I dont really get your last point David, as SF is probably the least mistrusted part in the state at the moment, and that is perhaps the real reason why other parties are now accusing them of doing something they are all engaged in.
@Da Dell: Apologies – I hit the wrong arrow thingy!
@Fr. Fintan Stack: No worries man, i had thought that anyways
@Angela McCarthy: I saw something alright from Comical Alan :-)
The hypocrisy of that man knows no bounds, the same man that used very dubious means to get peoples address and private bank info to forward Irish Water contracts.
The Sunday Independent?
@Cookie: SF won’t be getting my vote next time, couldn’t trust them
@talksense: You never have and you never would vote for SF.
I was a long time FF voter, voted for FG after the crash and voted for SF for the first time the last time and I will be the next time too.
Its FG i do not trust and a example of this is that their Leader is under a criminal investigation and is the in the 2016 election they said the would end the disgrace of people on trolleys, raise the the lower tax band to 50K and get rid of the USC by 2021 .. in 2020 they said they would change the bands of the USC and not longer mentioned their previous lies about the same and we all know what they didn’t do in Health or Housing .. It should be interesting to see what the promise in next election.
@Da Dell: ah Jay Zis yer havin a laugh here. Did you even read SF’s manifesto at the last election? Free everything for everyone. A giveaway and bonanza for anyone who votes for them. How do you think that would have fared out in today’s climate? For an opposition party they don’t half continually find themselves in the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons and for an alleged ex-FF voter, you sure have turned a corner.
@Da Dell: Every single party will make promises before the next election that they will have no intention of keeping your beloved SF among them
They will then use the cover of not being in sole power and having to compromise with other parties when they know right well that the were never going to get sole power.
Promises mean nothing from any political party and only a gullible child believes otherwise.
@GrumpyAulFella: Im almost 50 and voted FF for over 20 yrs, I dont care what you believe as I can also make assumptions about you.
Yes I did read all manifestos and have PDF copies, but only those in Gov can enact their election promises. They are continually in the spotlight because its FG policy to do so to deflect from their disastrous time in Gov proven by losing seats in every election from their high after the crash
Now put your money where your mouth is and list all the free everything for everyone that you speak off ?
@Justin Gillespie: Only you and your beloved FG believe that and it seems its actual policy. Its a terrible indictment of over 100 years of Irish Politics that you believe and accept that. We can only judge those that get into actual power on their manifestos. In the North SF have a policy manifesto of absenteeism that they have honored for over 100 yrs.
@Da Dell: What makes you think SF promises are wort any more than anyone else’s? These people are politicians and by definition can’t be trusted.
On top of that reality has a nasty habit of gatecrashing the party and laying waste to the best laid plans, Covid being the latest example.
All we can do is cast our vote and then hope for the best but prepare to be let down.
@Justin Gillespie: Well I just gave you an example of one they honored for 100 yrs !!!! Who knows what would happen if they ever get into power in the ROI, but if they do and they act like FG then they will be wiped out as Labour were, as FG are experts in getting the other parties in a coalition to take the fall for their doing. Im sure that FF and the Greens will take the fall for the handling of the pandemic too. We have had 100 yrs of FF/FG in the ROI as by your own admission that has lead to a healthy distrust of Politicians so there must be a change somehow.
@Da Dell: I’m all for change but not change for the sake of it.
My two main concerns with SF in government are the attitude they will take to our nearest neighbours and their complete inexperience in government.
The two biggest failures in this government have been Norma Foley and Stephen Donnelly both first time ministers and I dont want to see a cabinet full of first timers.
I couldn’t care less about the oul guff about “up for the ordinarily person” neither do I care that much about their past, they have left that behind and are now about as revolutionary as my mother.
@Justin Gillespie: Yes we can really see the benefit of the experienced political lifers to date so far and if you are concerned of the attitude of SF to our neighbors as you put it, you must have been really disappointment in how the Gov has treated our neighbors during Brexit and the pandemic. For Norma, totally agree a waste of space, Donnelly I’m on the fence as he was given the poisoned chalice and undermined by Leo, Harris & FG in general at every opportunity.
You might not care about the Ordinary person put i certainly do and when the canvasing was going on last GE the only person who had the slightest iota of a clue of what the ordinary people were going through and interested in was the SF candidate which i voted for.
@talksense: In the 3 years you have had this account on the Journal you have been consistently anti-sf. You’ve never voted Sinn Féin and never have had any intention to vote Sinn Féin. So what’s with the game playing comment?
Please let us know what made the commissioner question their practices. Is this a normal request? Have other political parties been questioned?
This can all be seen online. Sinn Fein is running a targeted ad campaign linked to a form that asks people about their issues and priorities.
They have 5 active ads in April and have spent €600 on them, with about 220,000 ads shown for that price.
They were more active in March spending €6,400 approximating across the month with more than 1.5 million ads purchased from the party Facebook and Instagram profiles.
It’s possible to retarget people that have filled out the form with other ads in future. That’s a Facebook thing not a Sinn Féin thing.
This means they’re using Facebook ads really well and are running a smart campaign.
I think the accusations are out of a lack of understanding and a bit of envy maybe.
@Philip Cooper: Fianna Fáil have spent €103,428 on Facebook “micro targeting” ads on Facebook since April 2019 about €20,000 more than Sinn Féin. Fianna Fáil’s targeting is pretty crappy though. They have a few active ads right now coming to less than €500 this month.
@Philip Cooper: #32 baby!
Funny that people have no problem with Sinn Fein holding on to personal information about themselves but then the kick up a fuss when they are asked to submit a form to Social Protection when looking for a ID card.
We know where you live.
The mob in action
@Bain triail aisti: LOL keep up the FG lies
@Bain triail aisti: like this you mean https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/fine-gael-councillor-called-to-limerick-pensioners-home-to-confront-him-over-facebook-post-39881664.html
@Michael Wall: Thanks I was aware of that story, I wonder will FG retain the older vote with the likes of that story and how the elderly were treated during the pandemic.
SinnFein and Target in the one sentence. Finally.
I still don’t understand how any of this is a bad thing. What they’re being accused of is marking individuals as either supporters, opponents, or potential swing voters as annotations to the voter register. What it means is that they can decide who is worth canvassing, who is a hardline opponent, etc.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but as someone who despises FF and FG alike, I *hope* they maintain a similar database, and have my name marked as a hardline opponent from previous interactions. It means they’re less likely to waste my time knocking on my door or sending me ads when the next election comes around. Meanwhile, other parties – PBP, for instance, who I’ve usually voted for in the past – can, assuming they’re also maintaining a similar database, look me up to see that there’s no need to canvass me (as I’m already a supporter) but that it might be worth texting to see if I’d do a leaflet hand-out at the shopping centre for their candidate.
Essentially, such annotations simply allow parties to avoid wasting their and a hardline opponent’s time by calling to their door or clogging up their phone line at election time. As I say, I sincerely hope that *all* of the parties are doing this. It’d be great if FF, FG (and since last summer, the Greens) had a note next to my name in the voter database saying “don’t bother texting this guy or calling to his gaff, he’ll only tell us he thinks we’re useless and get annoyed at us for interrupting his dinner”.
Such personalised market research has been part and parcel of politics since time immemorial. In the 2000s, before the age of near-universal social media use, those of us involved in local activism maintained such databases using clipboards so we’d know whose door to knock on, which letterboxes to put flyers through, which areas it made more sense to set up stalls in outside local parks, etc – why is it suddenly a scary, evil endeavour just because these days computers are involved?
Nothing to do with the fact polls and models are predicting heavy losses for both FF and FG.
All the younger vote is going the way of SF due to health housing and cost of insurance ect
Serbia Sinn Fein Serbia Sinn Fein Serbia Sinn Fein Serbia Sinn Fein Serbia Sinn Fein Serbia Sinn Fein Serbia Sinn Fein …….. Nice ring to it …..Serbia
FF,fg g
Sf hilarious as usual!!
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