Obama's Database and You

I read a statement this morning that disturbed me greatly from a conservative newsfeed.  The words were quoted as being from Maxine Waters, the U.S. Representative for California's 43rd District. This is the exact quote I read

"The President has put in place an  organization with the kind of database that no one has ever seen before in life," Representative Maxine Waters told Roland Martin on Monday.  "That's going to be very, very powerful," Waters said. "That database will have information about everything on every individual on ways that  it's never been done before and whoever runs for President on the Democratic ticket has to deal with that. They're going to go down with that database and the concerns of those people because they can't get around it. And he's [President Obama] been very smart. It's very powerful what he's leaving in place."

What is the name of the organization she was referring to? Organizing for America, which has now become the nonprofit organization Organizing for Action.   The video on the front page of Organizing for Action has a video of Michelle Obama in which she states Organizing for Action is "the next phase in our movement for change".  What kind of plans do they have that require a massive database of information "about everything on every individual" in America?  Why is it that this database is being held in the hands of a private organization? What right do they have to assemble and keep this information?

Lest this post be mistaken for just unsubstantiated hype, here is the interview Roland Martin conducted with Maxine Waters. You can listen and decide for yourself whether to be concerned.



What kind of information does this database contain? According to a report by NBC News:

"it contains the names of at least 4 million Obama donors – as well as millions of others (the campaign has consistently refused to say how many) compiled from voter registration rolls and other public databases. In addition, the campaign used sophisticated computer programs — with code names like “Narwhal” — to collect information through social media: Anybody who contacted the campaign through Facebook had their friends and “likes” downloaded. If they contacted the campaign website through mobile apps, cellphone numbers and address books were downloaded. Computer “cookies” captured Web browsing and online spending habits."

That's a whole lot of information in the hands of an organization whose intentions aren't all that clear. It isn't just Obama supporters who are in this database, either, and since the database was compiled from public records and voter registrations it could be every adult in America.  Since it's in the hands of a private organization, there's no requirement for them to inform anyone and no way to monitor what they do with this information. It's a fairly effective way to shut down the Freedom of Information Act and ensure that nosy reporters and bloggers can't peek under the hood to see just what's going on.