In their own words: How @facebook enabled the @Conservatives to win a majority on 37% of the vote in #GE2015... thanks to targeted online ads and a broken voting system.
facebook.com/business/succe…
facebook.com/business/succe…
"Facebook provided the Conservatives with the means to reach the people that mattered: key demographics in marginal constituencies."
The implication that the rest of us didn't matter is correct. Our First Past the Post voting system means most votes don't affect the result.
The implication that the rest of us didn't matter is correct. Our First Past the Post voting system means most votes don't affect the result.
That's why some political parties and shady online forces regard contact with people outside the key marginals as "wasted impressions".
Apparently, Facebook can even tell if you're visiting, rather than living in, a key seat - so adverts can be saved for people who "matter".
Apparently, Facebook can even tell if you're visiting, rather than living in, a key seat - so adverts can be saved for people who "matter".
They reached 80.6% of all Facebook users in target constituencies.
By speaking to "the right people, over-and-over again", 37% of the popular vote turned into 51% of the seats.
Most of us didn't vote for that government, but enough of the "people that mattered" did.
By speaking to "the right people, over-and-over again", 37% of the popular vote turned into 51% of the seats.
Most of us didn't vote for that government, but enough of the "people that mattered" did.
The Conservatives' campaign director was delighted that Facebook got their messages "in front of the voters who would decide the election"
Isn't that supposed to be all of us @NorwichChloe ? "#EveryVoiceMatters"? "A democracy that works for everyone"?
Isn't that supposed to be all of us @NorwichChloe ? "#EveryVoiceMatters"? "A democracy that works for everyone"?
Fast-forward 3 years and the "big data" and "behavioural microtargeting" firms - not to mention foreign powers - seem to be running out of control.
If a political party can swing an election through online targeting, who else might be doing the same? Nobody knows for sure.
If a political party can swing an election through online targeting, who else might be doing the same? Nobody knows for sure.
Remember, it's First Past the Post - not just the technology - that allows this.
When the world's most primitive voting system is targeted by the world's most sophisticated data outfits, democracy doesn't stand a chance.
Our best defense is a system in which every vote matters.
When the world's most primitive voting system is targeted by the world's most sophisticated data outfits, democracy doesn't stand a chance.
Our best defense is a system in which every vote matters.
Read our new blog to find out how Proportional Representation defends democracy from the emerging threats of data mining, dark ads, and microtargeting strategies.
makevotesmatter.org.uk/news/2018/3/21…
makevotesmatter.org.uk/news/2018/3/21…
