Is anyone else afraid of narrowcasting?

I just finished reading the Purpura, et al article on narrowcasting and I have a few very different reactions. For one, I think this technology is pretty cool. I think that that it did wonders for targeting in the last cycle and that it will continue to do so as the technology evolves. Being able to know who your supporters are, what messages will persuade them as well as knowing what message will move undecided voters will certainly make targeting more efficient. This type of advancement in campaign technology is certainly exciting.

What does not excite me about narrowcasting is the fact that all of my information is so public. I hate marketers and I hate being bothered by people who want to tell me what to buy, who to vote for, what to believe and where I should be spending my vacations. I am not too sure that I want political campaigns to have this much information on my consumer patterns for use in trying to persuade me to vote for a given candidate.

Advancements like this are a double edged sword in that it helps some people while burdening others. Campaigns will need to use this technology appropriately so that it does not lend itself to advance in your face marketing tactics. Only time will tell is politicos will show restraint in narrowcasting.