TOPLINE
The Democratic National Committee has warned campaign staffers to be careful on dating apps as officials said they’ve received reports that some political opposition groups are using dating apps to organize “sting” operations to get dirt on staffers and their campaigns, according to CNN.
The Democratic National Committee warned staffers to “swipe carefully” and “trust but verify.”
KEY FACTS
Staffers were told to “swipe carefully” and “trust but verify” and were encouraged to Google potential matches before striking up a conversation, according to a DNC email obtained by CNN.
The DNC told staffers to be cautious if someone asks multiple questions about the election, campaign, candidate or the opposition and to question if the person is genuinely curious or if they could be “pumping you for information.”
Staffers were asked not to share anything they wouldn’t want political opponents to see, not just in their online dating messages, but also in text messages, emails, phone calls and on social media.
The DNC encouraged staffers to “think twice about saying things that could be taken out of context to the detriment of our collective efforts.”
Being vigilant is especially important in the lead up to the election, the DNC said, noting, "we can expect our adversaries both foreign and domestic to dial up the heat."
The DNC did not name the specific political opposition groups or say if any staffers have been targeted.
further background
This type of “sting” operation isn’t new, a DNC official told CNN on Thursday, noting that the dating app warning was part of a larger conversation to educate campaign staffers on how “bad” actors operate online and strategies used to get people to divulge revealing information. The DNC did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment.
further reading
'Swipe carefully': Democratic campaign staffers warned of possible 'sting' on dating apps (CNN)
