MILWAUKEE – A major privacy flaw has emerged in the way recall elections are conducted in Wisconsin, a Media Trackers review finds. Individuals who sign a recall petition must provide their name, signature, address, and the date that they signed the document. The individual’s political preference could, in part, be determined by which petition they signed.

“All of the personal, private information that is placed on a recall petition could be accessed by businesses, political organizations, or individuals who intend to misuse or abuse that data,” said Brian Sikma, communications director for Media Trackers. “There is no statute that prevents that information from being abused by people who are looking for ways to co-opt personal data that many people try to responsibly keep private.”

The Government Accountability Board confirmed Thursday morning that this privacy loophole exists in the system. “There is no restriction on how recall petition information may be used.”

Media Trackers believes that as yet another recall campaign gets underway, Wisconsin citizens should be aware that zero privacy protections exist to protect them from ominous, malicious, or fraudulent behavior. Due to the highly charged nature of the political atmosphere, some people could seize personal information and use it to punish or harm others based on their political leanings. Others may seize the opportunity to gather important details that help them carry out harmful crimes.

“Wisconsin voters need to know that this privacy loophole exists and they need to consider that before signing any petitions,” Sikma remarked. “At minimum, those who sign recall petitions should strongly verify the credibility of those asking them to sign before they commit to doing so.”

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