Messages have reached the cell phones of millions of Colombians during the last three days, asking them for votes for the candidates for Congress and even candidates for the inter-party consultations.
Colombia News.
Millions of Colombians have had their phones ‘bombarded’ with text messages -and also calls- from the political campaigns that are going to the electoral contest this Sunday, on behalf of those who are going to the Chamber, the Senate and even the Interpatidistas Consultation, most of the sms they sent.
Citizens have shown on their social networks that “up to eight messages” arrived in one day.
The intensity was stronger between Thursday and Saturday.
Many claim not to know or have attended or have any kind of relationship
“They even put my name in the message asking me to vote” for such a candidate.
Moreover, there are messages from current council members asking for votes for candidates for the Senate.
Use of data without permissions?
“Who gives them our data?”They denounce that they have been called with full names, they are told that their data was obtained in a meeting or at an event with such a candidate, many claim they have never even heard the name of such an applicant.
What data do these campaigns have? The information of millions of people circulating between groups, companies and even in the hands of criminals who defraud, extort.
In Colombia, reports, complaints and claims for credit applications, mobile phone plans have skyrocketed; Internet and other services that have been taken out by third parties, stealing information from people when they enter links, call numbers that reach them by text message, WhatsApp or answer misleading calls.
Millions of data in digital databases
The dilemma of the citizens is that their telephone numbers, personal data and even their identity card, rolls in the databases of banks, businesses, stores and telephone operators.
Who controls how these millions of pieces of data are handled?
- Why, if your line belongs to one operator, do they call you from another to offer you products and services?
If this happens, you must remember how and to whom you give your information, when you walk down the street and they ask you for a survey, or go in to ask about a service. The so-called ‘fine print of the contract’.
The so-called marketing and commercial strategies are a “double-edged sword”, warn specialists, in many entities they do not give information if a record is not first made with at least basic data and the signing of a “responsibility and acceptance” format.
There, your data is already there, and it remains even if you are denied credit, or the product, or you finally do not access it.
In addition, the other problem is the leaks to public entities, company pages and social networks.
At least 20 text messages from candidates I don’t know and with this I would least like to know. If they are not capable of respecting a rule as elementary as data protection, they are not capable of respecting anything afterwards. Too bad the SIC allowing this abuse.
— steven maple (@stevenarce) March 12, 2022
