US: Religious data platform 'targets mentally ill, vulnerable people'

[Klaralven]

A new film reveals how Cambridge Analytica, collaborating with a software company, has created a platform for US churches that targets the poor, the addicted and the disabled — to radicalize them for far-right politics.

For their documentary People You May Know, Charles Kriel, special adviser to the UK Parliament on disinformation, and filmmaker Katharina Gellein traveled across the United States accompanied by a team of journalists and whistleblowers. Their film reveals the political connection between religious fundamentalists, oligarchs and Cambridge Analytica and its shell companies, which have fundamentally shifted the balance of politics in the United States.

https://www.dw.com/en/us-religious-data-platform-targets-mentally-ill-vulnerable-people/a-55062013

[dchill]

1. There's no low they won't go.

[northoftheborder]

2. Sick, sick, sick. However, not surprised.

[kimbutgar]

3. Vulnerable people easily manipulated

I had a longtime friend who lost her step daughter under tragic circumstances. She went from being a fun loving person to a mean bitter person after she got involved with this right wing Christian group. I miss that fun loving person but she is gone forever and it was her embrace of Christian fundamentalism. I believe the grief pushed her over mentally and then she was manipulated.

My sister in law is also involved in a right wing evangelical church and she got sucked in because he husband dumped her and she never got over him. She loves MF45 but says she won’t vote because it won’t because she believes both parties are the same.

[Faux pas]

4. Kickin' with disgust!

[Midnight Writer]

5. I have a friend who used to go door to door for her church.

She said she was taught to look for signs of distress. An illness. A recent death. A divorce. Substance abuse.

Those were the people they would target, with love bombing and sympathy.

She said they kept a log of vulnerable people, and would be sure to follow up relentlessly.

She was told that it may take two hundred visits or more to convert someone, to be very patient, listen and let the person unload, don't hard sell the church until late in the game.

If they had a "live" one, an elder from the church would start monitoring the visits, sometimes replacing the visitor with a more experienced or charismatic church member.

She was also told not to be afraid to flirt a little (she is very attractive) if she thinks it will help maintain the contact.

[Delmette2.0]

7. This is one reason I'm an Atheist.

I can't tolerate the religious lies and the door to door crap.

To the door to door knockers I just say I'm not interested, it usually works. To one person I just flat out cheerfully said "No thanks, I'm an Atheist." She almost ran away. lol.

[hedda_foil]

6. Knr for visibility.