Many of the 18,000 names on Labour's database of email addresses appear to have been supplied unwittingly by people who protested against early childhood spending cuts.
Right-wing blogger Cameron Slater has claimed on his website that names from the petition, organised by teachers' union the New Zealand Educational Institute, were among those held on Labour's database and revealed by a security flaw.
Labour insiders confirmed they were aware of an email from NZEI to those who signed the petition, sent on Friday, explaining that some of their names had ended up on Labour's database.
The email addresses were obtained from tens of thousands of postcards calling on the Government to reverse cuts to early childhood funding. People who signed the postcards were told they were destined for Prime Minister John Key, but they were presented to Labour MP Sue Moroney instead.
Labour then uploaded the email addresses on its database, supposedly so it could contact people who protested to tell them that Mr Key had refused to receive the postcards.
But, according to the NZEI email, only some people appear to have received such an email.
The incident raises fresh questions about the information kept and stored on party databases and whether people who sign petitions or contact political parties should be made aware that their information may be used for other purposes.
Labour Party president Moira Coatsworth and secretary Chris Flatt did not return calls yesterday.
Cameron Slater has been blogging about this for the last few days, but we've only had time to digest it this morning. While we have digested the information, the revelations seem to be causing a degree of dyspepsia for the Labour Party. They have been caught red-handed harvesting e-mails from the NZEI database, then using those e-mails to promote campaigns and policy releases.
The story continues:
But party insiders rejected suggestions there was a breach of privacy because details of those who took part in the postcard campaign would have been available under the Official Information Act had they gone to Mr Key's office.
It appears Labour is also using technology that allows it to "track" emails sent to it, enabling it to find out whether its emails are being opened or forwarded to someone else.
But sources said that tracking technology did not enable trackers to "harvest" the email addresses of anyone who received the material that had been forwarded.
Labour is quick to accuse National of running attack lines crafted for it by those Australian bounders, Messrs Crosby and Textor. But of course the New Zealand Labour Party contracts overseas as well. Blue State Digital is a Washington-based internet strategy and technology company, with strong links to left wing political parties in the USA and UK; and New Zealand.
We have little doubt that the Labour Party has engaged the services of Blue State Digital to advise it on issues of communication with its support base, and with the public. We strongly doubt however that Blue State Digital gave the Labour Party any advice on internet security as BSD is a professional business, and the error made by ther Labour Party and exposed by WhaleLeaks represented the height of amateur involvement.
In the meantime the Labour Party needs to front up and explain how e-mails were sent to 18,000 people whose e-mail addresses had been collected by the NZEI, the union representing primary and ECE teachers. Those people filling out postcards opposing changes in ECE funding did not agree to their e-mail addresses being harvested by the Labour Party.
This is awfully embarrassing for the Labour Party. What else awaits them in the WhaleLeaks file?
26 comments:
Nuclear explosion!
The Slater, what else will he pull out of his ... computer?
Now was that a comment, criticism or a white flag.
I will borrow a quote from the late great orator, David Lange, "I can smell the uranium on his breath"
Quite so Gravedodger - Robert's response was the blogging equivalent of "Oh; look over there!".
'WhaleLeaks' - sounds cetaceous incontinence.
Hey!
It is!
'like'
sounds like the dribblings of an incontinent cetacean.
And
it
is.
Speaking of which... I was handed a knob of ambergris yesterday... but enough merriment, I've potatoes to dig and firewood to cut and a young Japanese woman on hand to help me out.
Ikanakya!
It is indeed Robert; WO has piddled all over Labour's election prospects. As Buddy Holly sang "Ain't that a shame?"!!
RG is gurgling away as the Labour Party is. The fact that WO has exposed their incompetence is not to be acknowledged, rather shoot the messenger. I understand WO has more to disclose, including Labour's use of taxpayer funded resources, makes this more enjoyable practically on a daily basis.
Cadwallader
Is RG importing slave labour from Japan.
Yes pdm and she's working like a Trojan!
Right now, digging yams, back bent under the blazing Riverton sun.
WO, Anon? WW rather.
Whale Oil has now become Whale Wees, thanks to Inv2.
Scatological focus this morning RG? But then again, what is new.
What's new alex?
Well, since you asked...
http://robertguyton.blogspot.com/2011/06/mine-national-park.html
Labour's claim that they could have obtained the postcards under the OIA and thus got the email addresses is dubious.
Section 9(2)(a) of the OIA allows information to be withheld to 'protect the privacy of natural persons'. In my Department, that normally means delecting any personal contact details before material is released.
So while Labour could have obtained a copy of the postcard from Jane Smith, they would not necessarily have learned her email address.
I'm astonished that the press, who routinely obtain material under the OIA, haven't queried Labour's claim.
I stress that I'm not a lawyer, and would wecome comment from someone who is.
Quite so Bobux, which makes Robert's valiant attempts to deflect attention away from the issue even more telling. Labour and the NZEI are joined at the hip, but that is no reason for information collected by the NZEI for one purpose to be used by Labour for another purpose. The Labour Party has some explaining to do, but at the moment they are staying mum.
Probably as bored as I am by the whole non-event.
Yes..Your boredom is obvious, by the seven...yes...SEVEN...times you have graced this topic with your drivel.
Seven!
Easy guys, sonny bill guyton is acting as a long term prisoner might, smearing his shit on the walls, and doesn't see it as degrading himself.
The demented drip is driven by the hopelessness of his situation as the facts dawn that Hatfield may not be T W Ratana's "Young Man from the North". and his much loved Green party wont be leading the government on Nov 27th.
With any luck Gravedodger, the recent poll which saw the Greens' support down by 30% might be a harbinger of the election result which sees the Greens slipping below the MMP threshhold.
Gravy - your language is getting a little nasty. I'm surprised Inv2 lets you say 'shit' as often as you do here. He doesn't allow links to NoRightTurn (that's a no-no!) so I'm pretty sure he'll be rapping you over the knuckles soon for your foul mouth :-)
gravedodger, Bobby really knows his shit .. he puts it on his veggies so you should listen to him about such things.
I know just how effective the same smear was used on Jeanette Fitzsimons, jabba. With every approaching election, commentators such as yourself would make such claims in an attempt to smear her obviously good name. I'm flattered, naturally, that you regard me in the same category as the ex-co-leader of the Greens and widely respected with it, but really jabba, you're a dick-head :-)
Jabba's a good bloke Rob; perhaps not as refined as you, but a good bloke nonetheless. And you have to admit the "shit on the veggies" line was a goodie, even if it's an oldie!
I'm one of jabba's fans Inv2, so much so that I'm posting him a bunch of juicy, juicy silver beet, frrrrrresh from my garden.
What did you think of Key's speech to the Aussies Inv2?
I've heard nothing about its quality.
to be honest, I upset Jennette just before the election with a letter to the Editor of the NZ Herald. She was upset enough to reply and actually refer to me "your Correspondent jabba" so I was touched that she replied to me. I had warm fuzzies indeed. It was that letter that caused a Greenie to send an anonymous letter to my home.
Not that kean on rhubarb Bobby, you should keep it for your homemade wine. A cauli or 2 would be ok.
and I consider being called a dickhead from Bobby slightly ironic but I will wear it with pride.
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