How Politicians are Misusing Big Data for Their Gains?

Big data transforms political campaign scenarios and revolutionizes politics.

Data is so important these days. Big Data is a collection of data that is huge in volume, yet growing exponentially with time. Data is so large in size and complexity that none of the traditional data management tools can store it or process it efficiently. Misusing Big data is a hot topic amongst politicians. It is the latest digital innovation tool for politics. Political Campaigns are using big data to know the demographics list of voter rolls and specifically targeting them to turn out on Election Day. Politics will continue to innovate in the field of misusing big data. The information obtained through data has potential applications in almost every aspect of our lives, from health care to commercial marketing to law enforcement.

How big data can change politics:

Data can make or break a political campaign. But while it's true that it can help people to be elected into office, it can also help them to do their jobs much more effectively and efficiently. Data and its analysis can be used by healthcare heads to determine where best to allocate funds. It can be used by foreign ministers to simulate complex trade agreements or to predict the long-term effects of uncertain political situations. It can be used to identify potential terrorist threats or to give advance warnings of disease outbreaks or other phenomena using population data. It is a new generation of data-savvy politicians who can make sense of it. The issue is that there are two ways for politicians to use data analysis. They can either use it for the common good or they can use it for their own personal gain.

Big data in American politics:

Big Data revolutionized the way American politicians win elections. In the process, it broke American politics. Data makes it easy for candidates to dismiss their opponents.

Politics broke because the system is paralyzed by polarization. Polarization is not just polluting the system, but it's paralyzing fair political methods. The demographic data have made it easier for campaigns to target their base instead of appealing to a broad swath of voters.

Big data allows campaigns to pinpoint their most likely supporters and target them with ads and favourable content. These tools make mobilizing supporters easier, faster, and far less expensive than persuading their neighbors. The result, increasingly, is that candidates talk only to voters disposed to agree with them, as opposed to persuading those who don't. It's how the data was misused and manipulated that brought us to a breaking point.

Conclusion:

Data consulting services in political campaigns is a fast-developing area in political scenarios. Data helps politicians to think of their constituents as not the people who vote and live in their areas, but as the people who vote for them. Data helps you dismiss your opponents. In India, for the 2014 General election, BJP has relied more on big data and campaign managers to develop the political strategies to win the election. It is the techniques of data analysis that help the campaign managers to analyze the bigger databases and come out with the most suitable strategies to win the votes.