U.S. voters swayed by political spam email

rob_au · 26 Oct 2004, 09:01 AM

Quote:

MailFrontier™, a pioneer in email security and leading provider of anti-spam solutions, today announced survey findings that point to a potential sway in voting due to the influx of political spam. The independent survey found that when individuals viewed two political spam emails (one anti-Bush and one anti-Kerry), 21 percent responded that if they received such an email it would have an impact on how they vote in the 2004 presidential election.

From http://www.mailfrontier.com/press/press_politics.html - Never underestimate the persuasive power of spam!

petergh · 26 Oct 2004, 06:32 PM

I think there's a big difference between presenting those messages to the test group as part of an experiment or survey and sending it to them as an actual spam email. In the latter case, if I were in the survey group and actually read the message (which is very unlikely since it would be spam), I wouldn't even consider letting my political standpoint be influenced by it. I would trust the message it conveyed as much as I trust the people behind all the other spam messages I receive, which is to say not at all.

Peter

teacher · 26 Oct 2004, 07:49 PM

Um, I see the UK following ...a certain party is already doing it!

rob_au · 26 Oct 2004, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by teacher
Um, I see the UK following ...a certain party is already doing it!

There was instances of this occurring on behalf of the incumbent Liberal party in the Federal election in Australia which has just past - Additionally, this intrusive political advertising also took the form of automated telephone calls in marginal seats.

**Shelded** · 27 Oct 2004, 12:46 PM

Note we are only allowed to discuss this as spam and not politics. It's getting hazy here.

26 Oct 2004, 06:32 PM	#2
petergh Master of the @ Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 1,302	I think there's a big difference between presenting those messages to the test group as part of an experiment or survey and sending it to them as an actual spam email. In the latter case, if I were in the survey group and actually read the message (which is very unlikely since it would be spam), I wouldn't even consider letting my political standpoint be influenced by it. I would trust the message it conveyed as much as I trust the people behind all the other spam messages I receive, which is to say not at all. Peter

26 Oct 2004, 07:49 PM	#3
teacher Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,167	Um, I see the UK following ...a certain party is already doing it!

27 Oct 2004, 12:46 PM	#5
Shelded Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USA Northwest Posts: 3,849	Note we are only allowed to discuss this as spam and not politics. It's getting hazy here.