The Problem with Online Petitions…

Online petitions can be a great way for a group of people to show solidarity with a belief, value, idea, or choice. Until recently, I was a fan of online petitions, because they were a great way to give folks who were relatively new to online activism a voice. I have even expressed on several occasions that one of the benefits of having a substantial, quality online social network is that when you need an online petition signed – you have a way to get the word out quickly. Ft. Hard Knox has promoted a few online petitions, and encouraged political conservatives to sign them.

Ok, Jenn, so what’s your problem today?

I’m glad you asked.

Leftists used online petitions, fundraisers, and websites in the last election season as a very effective phishing tool. Who can forget this: Obama Phishing Expedition Reels in a Whopper? For those that need a reminder, a “phishing” expedition online is the collection and building of a database of names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and other personal information. There is some “suspicion” now that those databases are now being used to promote the White House agenda (although this has yet to be proven).

Unfortunately, there are a number of webmasters on the political right who have decided that this tactic worked so well for the left, we might as well do it, too. Politicians and non-profits of every stripe are now shamelessly using the online petition to gain the personal contact info of as many folks as they can. What will this information be used for? Who will it be sold to? It’s hard to know. In many cases, it will simply be used as a contact list the next time that politician or group needs money or a bunch of signatures. In other cases, however, these lists are sold and traded, and there’s no telling where they’ll end up.

I have been bombarded lately with requests to sign online petitions. I occassionally will sign one if I’m familiar with the group or politician, if I’m relatively sure they are actually gathering the information to use to prove a point regarding the “will of the people,” and if I know I’m really not going to mind getting numerous e-mails over the next several months and years from that group or politician. In most cases, however, it is almost impossible to tell who is gathering the information or what they are planning to do with it.

Another problem with all of the online petitions is that they have become a substitute for effective activism. Perhaps we feel like we’ve “done something,” or “made our voice heard,” on an issue by signing one, but a little common sense will tell us that there is a limit to how seriously these online petitions (signed all too often by people using fake names and contact information because of the concerns listed above, or because they are spamming the petitions with multiple entries) will be taken. These internet “petitions” are not at all similar to the signature petitions that are gathered at the local level, and used for grass-roots activism. The effort toward finding, trying to log-on to, and filling out personal information on these online petitions might be more effectively spent on contacting your legislator.