We’ve said in the past that Microsoft’s “Scroogled” campaign rings somewhat hollow to us because Microsoft has certainly not been above using its users’ data to sell more targeted ads. Now The Washington Post informs us that Microsoft is going to cobble together Xbox Live user profiles from “Microsoft user IDs and other public data” that it will then use to deliver targeted political ads on the Xbox Live dashboard based on what it thinks are users’ personal beliefs. Microsoft is also apparently pitching political campaigns to share their “own lists of voter e-mail addresses” so that “Microsoft can match the additional data with individual customer accounts for even more accurate voter targeting.” No Microsoft officials would comment on the Post’s story and it’s not clear what opt-out policies will be for any gamers who don’t want their Xbox dashboards spammed with political ads.

Prior to joining BGR as News Editor, Brad Reed spent five years covering the wireless industry for Network World. His first smartphone was a BlackBerry but he has since become a loyal Android user.