Tory candidate accuses Labour of data-harvesting exercise Via thank-you messages
A TORY candidate has accused Labour of engaging in a “morally wrong” data-harvesting exercise by using thank-you messages to vaccinators as a means of gathering information about potential supporters.
In a message posted on social media, Welsh Labour states: “Say thank you to the Welsh vaccinations team. Across Wales our vaccinators have been working tirelessly to make sure that the most vulnerable are getting their jabs as quickly as possible, and now we’ve done 500,000 vaccinations.
“Sign our ‘thank you’ card to Wales’ vaccination team here.”
People are then invited to complete a form, giving their name and email address and to write a personal message to the team of vaccinators. They are also asked to give their consent to being contacted by Welsh Labour.
Newport West Senedd Conservative
candidate Michael Enea said: “Is the harvesting of data in this way allowed, just two and a half months out from a major election?
“Even the wording is somewhat questionable. When they say, ‘Across Wales our vaccinators have been working tirelessly’, do they mean
Labour vaccinators? It from a Labour website.
“It’s a nice touch, setting up a thank-you card. Our NHS staff have worked wonders. During the first wave of the pandemic, I actually is coming delivered two pallets of free food, snacks, drinks and sanitiser to NHS workers up at the Llanfrechfra Grange Hospital. But shouldn’t this be better coming from the Welsh Government or the local health board or a newspa
per, maybe? To me, there’s something morally very wrong in harvesting data in this way.”
A spokesman for Welsh Labour responded: “Welsh Labour supporters are keen to say thank you for the huge efforts across Wales. Our thank-you card has a very clear option for individuals to choose if they wish to join our mailing list to hear about our campaigns.
“The sign-up section says: ‘Be part of our movement – with the contact details you have chosen to provide, the Labour Party can keep you updated via email on the latest campaigns, events and opportunities to get involved’. It offers two options: ‘Yes, add me to the list”’and ‘No, don’t add me to the list’.
“Further, if Mr Enea is opposed to such things, I’m sure he will challenge the Welsh Conservatives over their petition and social media ads to ‘Speed Up the Vaccine Rollout In Wales’ https://action.conservatives.wales/ vaccine-plan/ despite Wales being ahead of all other parts of the UK in terms of the percentage of the population vaccinated.
“Mr Enea’s party petition also has the following text: ‘Please tick this box if you would like to stay in touch with the Welsh Parliament Campaign and receive future messages from the Conservative Party and the wider Conservative Party. For more information please see our privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
“Our e-card is to say thank you for the hope the Wales vaccinations team are giving to so many each day. The Welsh Conservatives, in contrast, are trading on people’s fears.
“Thanks to an incredible team effort, Wales is the first UK nation where one in five of the population have now received their first dose of the vaccine. Labour supporters across Wales are proud of our NHS, armed forces and volunteers – and want to thank them.”