"Trump 2020 APP" collects a large amount of user data: is it being overly analyzed or infringing on privacy?

According to a research report released by MIT Technology Review on June 21st, the Official Trump 2020 App, the official presidential election app of President Trump, has been reported to collect a large amount of user data, far exceeding the data collected by his competitor Biden's Team Joe App.

Official Trump 2020 App

Research team members Jacob Gursky and Samuel Woolley pointed out that Trump's campaign app requests access to functions including user mobile ID, call logs, Bluetooth pairing, and the ability to read, write, and delete data. They expressed concern about the app's ability to read Bluetooth data, stating:

The ability to capture Bluetooth data is concerning as it can track location data and target specific individuals as politicians tour the country. By passing by a campaign event with a beacon installed, they can record and identify the public through Bluetooth, building personal profiles. This practice has transitioned from the advertising industry to political elections.

The report indicates that Trump's app is using this information to motivate supporters to vote in the future and to expand his influence. Through these audiences, it is easier to target advertising information and direct contact with supporters may also encourage them to persuade their families and friends to vote for Trump in the election.

Overinterpretation or Privacy Threat?

The report emphasizes that the "Trump 2020 App" continuously sends highly suspicious or completely unreliable messages. For example, headlines such as "Inventory of Biden's Eight Embarrassing Disastrous Moments." The app was launched and made available for download in mid-April this year, with approximately 780,000 downloads according to the data platform Apptopia.

During registration, users are required to provide their phone number, full name, email, and are strongly encouraged to share the app with existing contacts. The report suggests that this is part of the campaign strategy to target the 40 to 50 million citizens needed for Trump's reelection.

However, this report seems somewhat biased, as Trump's competitor - Biden's application (Team Joe App) also collects information from supporters, including the users' contact lists, and asks users to send personal messages to friends, encouraging them to vote for the presidential candidate.

Furthermore, beacons have been widely used in advertising in recent years, using low-energy Bluetooth and specific apps to achieve precise marketing. For example, when users pass by a specific store, their phones receive signals from beacons installed by the store, and the corresponding app compares data, sending users targeted advertising information. For instance, passing by a Starbucks or a beverage store, the phone may receive different promotional information.

It is foreseeable that Trump's path to reelection will be full of challenges. Besides his controversial remarks and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the "I Can't Breathe" incident involving the death of an African American man due to excessive force has sparked nationwide protests. The current situation seems to echo the 2016 U.S. presidential election, where Trump will once again face various reports from anonymous and unofficial sources.