'Stop Shorten': Mobile phone app that helped galvanise support for Donald Trump and the Brexit movement now targets voters in Australia's federal election Mobile phone app unveiled by Australian Taxpayers Alliance during election App allows users to spread the message on their own social media channels Part of the group's campaign against federal opposition leader Bill Shorten App developed by uCampaign helped Donald Trump become president in 2016 IT experts have raised fears about privacy and app users' details being collected By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia Published: 02:38 BST, 25 April 2019 | Updated: 07:22 BST, 25 April 2019 Viewcomments The mobile phone app that helped gain support for Donald Trump to become US president and the Brexit movement in the UK has been launched in Australia during the federal election campaign. The right wing activist group Australian Taxpayers Alliance (ATA) introduced the digital tool designed by US app developer uCampaign to voters when the group unveiled its 'Stop Shorten' campaign this week. The group has stepped up its crusade against federal opposition leader Bill Shorten as the May 18 election draws closer. App users are encouraged to comment and share ATA's social media posts and invite friends to earn points, which can be traded for merchandise such T-shirts. Australian Taxpayers Alliance unveiled its Stop Shorten mobile phone app this week 'If they're interested in coming out and campaigning for us or in sharing our content or inviting their friends … they can do that and they get rewarded for it with the point system,' ATA policy director Satya Marar told the ABC. 'They can use the app to spread the message to their own social media channels, to their own texts, their own emails.' The ATA describes itself as a unique grassroots advocacy and activist group dedicated to standing up for Australian taxpayers. 'We oppose the high taxes, wasteful spending, and crippling red tape that is hurting Aussie families and businesses, and provide a voice for everyone who opposes the big-government agenda,' its website states. Australian Taxpayers Alliance policy director Satya Marar (pictured) insists the app would not access personal data without users' consent IT experts have raised privacy fears about personal information being collected from app users, amid claims previous uCampaign apps have made vast use of users' mobile contacts. 'And more to the point, it's not yours in many cases,' IT expert Justin Warren told the ABC. 'The contact information is about your friends, family, people who you know. Speaking purely personally, I wouldn't touch this app with a 12-foot pole.' Mr Marar has since assured the app would not access personal data without users' consent. The Australian Taxpayers Alliance has stepped up its campaign discouraging Australians from voting for Bill Shorten when they go to the polls on May 18 Founded in 2014 in Washington, uCampaign has previously claimed its app played a role in Donald Trump winning the US presidential election against Hilary Clinton in 2016. Its apps were also used in Ireland's anti-abortion campaign in Ireland and by the National Rifle Association in the US. The mobile phone app is in addition to ATA's new Stop Shorten website launched this week. 'We have this week launched our Stop Shorten campaign to oppose Labor's draconian tax hikes which will drive up rents, strip retirees of their savings, devalue Aussie shares and take a wrecking ball to our economy,' the ATA posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday. 'You spoke, and we listened. Hundreds of e-mails from concerned, civic-minded Australian taxpayers made it clear that this is campaign is one of our most important battles yet.' The Stop Shorten uCampaign mobile phone app is gaining momentum Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility