From what I recall (the article is register-walled now), the document had twitter handles and public statements. Did the article specify they gathered nonpublic information?

That's a personal information database and making one without consent of the people detailed is _super_ illegal in Europe.

There's a few examples of entities like Jehovah's witnesses making do-not-visit lists that have been considered as a personal information database and such have been in hot water many, many times about that. Yes, even though you might do them to help you personally, you're acting as an agent of the org you're associated with, and such you're not supposed to be doing that.

> when i'm doing large presentations to prospective clients my company gives me what they call a "look book". This is a deck with information about every person in the audience all the way down to personality traits, triggering words/phrases, and negotiating style. I think it's pretty normal.

this is antisocial manipulative behavior normalized under the auspices of "good business".

> I think it's pretty normal.

It has been normalized to you.

It is not normal.

If you ever showed up at my business with something like that, we would never meet again, and I would tell all of my peers, other businesses, etc.

What you're doing is called PsyOps and it's a military function.

Are the potential clients aware that you have this? Are you willing to say who you are or who your company is or would that be embarrassing? I would absolutely not be your client.