What happened
L2 Data, a prominent political data company, is offering a voter database that identifies Americans based on their support for right-wing militias, the QAnon conspiracy theory, and the January 6 insurrection.
This dataset represents a new direction in campaign technology and raises national security concerns. L2 gathers this information by surveying voters and extrapolating probable views of similar groups using voter records and consumer data.
The company’s dataset, covering a broad spectrum of political opinions, is available for purchase by various political entities. According to FEC filings, politicians like Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) have bought L2’s data, but there’s no evidence they used it to target individuals supportive of extremism.
Some experts argue that such data could help identify individuals prone to political violence and mitigate risks. However, there is significant concern about the availability of this data to non-American campaigns and potential misuse.
Experts, including Rhiannon Neilsen from Baruch College, warn that this type of data could be exploited by hostile foreign governments or domestic actors to reinforce extremist beliefs and spread targeted disinformation. The company’s executive vice president, Paul Westcott, did not name specific clients but stated that “thousands” of organizations use their voter models.