CDA Alerts Democratic Party to Digital Threats

January 31, 2023

Re: Could Digital Threats Keep Democrats Out of Power in 2024?

Jaime Harrison
Chairman
The Democratic National Committee
430 South Capitol Street Southeast
Washington, DC 20003

U.S. Senator Gary Peters
Chairman
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
120 Maryland Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002

U.S. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene
Chairwoman
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Dear Chairs Harrison, Peters and DelBene,

The strong showing by Democrats in the most recent midterm elections, was a testament to skillful stewardship by our Party’s leadership, in the Congress, in the White House, in state houses around the country and by the DNC, the DCCC and the DSCC.

With 2024 in mind, I wanted to raise with you some concerns about our ability to win in the next round of federal elections. Specifically, two issues with our digital assets that could make it harder for Democratic campaigns to compete.

First, is a threat to an industry practice that Democratic campaigns work with to leverage geolocation data and analytics. Understand, these data and analytical tools effectively reach the growingly important millennial voter and suburban women. Specifically, digital and mobile advertising enables candidates to target voters, guide their grassroots outreach, and maximize their fundraising efforts. These digital capabilities helped ensure that the Republican “red wave” never materialized in the most recent midterms.

This data and analytics are typically – and legitimately – used by corporations to advertise, or by political campaigns to urge people to vote. But, this data is not protected by any federal or state laws and in response, some Democratic members of Congress have raised the alarm that this data could potentially be used by law enforcement in states that have outlawed abortion to prosecute women who have visited an abortion clinic.

Likely buoyed by the concerns of those Democratic lawmakers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has decided to sue one data and analytics company called Kochava, based in Idaho. The FTC alleges that by making geolocation data available to advertisers, Kochava is enabling others to identify individuals and exposing them to threats of stigma, stalking, discrimination, job loss, and even physical violence.

But the real problem is that there needs to be federal guidelines created through legislation that outlines how these data and analytics firms should operate. This process will allow these tech companies to have clear guidelines about what they can, and cannot do, under the law. Not to mention the fact that Democratic campaigns use these same methods to engage key voters and bring important issues to their attention.

But, the FTC is trying to create a regulatory framework through litigation and in our opinion is stretching the definition of this rule in order to set a legal precedent. I urge your organizations to consider the potential impact the FTC’s actions will have on future Democratic campaigns.

Second, the Intercept, is reporting that two digitally-focused companies at the forefront of Democratic campaigns, known as NGP VAN and EveryAction, have been taken over by a British private equity firm and are laying off employees in large numbers.

As a former Democratic Member of Congress, and someone who continues to be actively involved in Democratic politics and campaigns, this is worrisome news. Understand, these two companies – NGP VAN and EveryAction – are at the heart of nearly every Democratic campaign from local races to Congress and even the White House. Yet, a foreign private equity firm has taken these companies over, and is going to be focused on their bottom line, not Democratic victories.

NGP VAN and EveryAction keep massive digital lists of registered Democrats and help campaigns both fundraise from and reach these voters through emails, text messages, personal visits, phone calls from volunteers, advertisements and numerous other digital tools.

Without question, this situation is a serious concern that requires the leaders of the Democratic Party to get involved and ensure that these two companies are fully functioning leading into the 2024 elections. We cannot afford another Donald Trump presidency, so a British private equity firm can reap massive profits.

Again, with 2024 fast approaching, I wanted to raise these issues with you – and urge the DNC to take appropriate steps to manage these potential challenges to the ability of Democrats to compete and win in the upcoming elections.

Thank you for your attention to these important matters.

Sincerely,
Ronnie Shows
Former Member of Congress 1999-2003
Centrist Democrats of America

Source: https://www.centristdems.com/s/CDA-Letter-to-DNC.pdf