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Political Campaigns, Social Media, and Analytics: The Case of the GDPR

Politics and Technology in the Post-Truth Era

ISBN: 978-1-78756-984-3, eISBN: 978-1-78756-983-6

Publication date: 7 May 2019

Abstract

This chapter examines the ways social media, analytics, and disruptive technologies are combined and leveraged by political campaigns to increase the probability of victory through micro-targeting, voter engagement, and public relations. More specifically, the importance of community detection, social influence, natural language processing and text analytics, machine learning, and predictive analytics is assessed and reviewed in relation to political campaigns. In this context, data processing is examined through the lens of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) effective as of May 25, 2018. It is concluded that while data processing during political campaigns does not violate the GDPR, electoral campaigns engage in surveillance, thereby violating Articles 12 and 19, in respect to private life, and freedom of expression accordingly, as stated in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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Acknowledgements

Acknowledgement

This chapter is a version of my Honors Thesis which was supported by the Deree International Honors Program and was revised with the help provided by the editors of this book during the editorial process.

Citation

Dimisianos, N. (2019), "Political Campaigns, Social Media, and Analytics: The Case of the GDPR", Visvizi, A. and Lytras, M.D. (Ed.) Politics and Technology in the Post-Truth Era (Emerald Studies in Politics and Technology), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 73-88. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78756-983-620191006

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Nikolaos Dimisianos