Using technology in elections – Folha de S.Paulo

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There are many politicians who miss the time when radio and TV were central to the definition of an election campaign. In 2016, everything is different. The tools that define political positions are held by Silicon Valley companies. Just follow the primaries in the United States to see how social media has become the main weapons in the electoral battle.

The campaign of Hilary Clinton is a lesson in that. After learning with Barack Obama in the last two elections, the candidate went ahead in technology. His campaign is full based on “science data” (data science).

For this, the Democratic Party did an amazing thing. Unified all their databases, national, state and local, on a single platform, which is accessible by each and every party candidate.

The system is breathtaking. It brings together in one place a set of tools. For example, allows for raising funds online. Or manage canvassers across the country. It also has a toolbox for demonstrations on topics that are of party interest.

Anyone can use to get elected mayor, senator or president. Only one thing is required: to be a Democrat. The system is not open to other political forces.

To get an idea of ​​the importance of the platform, in 2014 the Democratic National Committee has blocked its use by Bernie Sanders candidate because of a violation of party rules. While it lasted blocking, Sanders campaign froze, such dependence tool.

Republicans are behind in technology, but not for long. There is an effort to build a similar platform. It does not help the fact that Silicon Valley is overwhelmingly Democratic. But there are exceptions, such as billionaire Larry Ellison, one of the ten richest people on the planet. Alone, he donated $ 3 million to the Republican campaign Marco Rubio.

While the US campaigns embrace the network in Brazil politicians are terrified of her. Is pending in Congress the bill 215/2015. Their goal: to criminalize anyone who speaks ill of politicians on the Internet. In some cases, turning these “crimes” heinous.

The project also wants to force any site or application to ask the user CPF, to facilitate processing the “criminal”. The project should go to vote at any time in the House. Moreover, it is in the final stretch of the CPI Cybercrime, whose report comes out in March. It is expected that there are other bombs on the internet and freedom of expression coming from there too. It would be great if the Congress looked at the network and enxergasse its potential to generate growth and jobs. And not a threat to their privileges.