Kevin Ryan, CEO of DoubleClick, was recently interviewed on CNN fN and
stated that according to his research, users want to be personally
targeted with ads. assuming that is true (i dont think most users have
a clue about cookies yet), then there should be no objection to the OPT
IN approach (versus OPT OUT) for personal data sharing. why should we
suffer the end of anonymity on the web because a few giant ad agencies
insist on default personalization?
if the computer industry and ad agency networks really want to avoid
federal regulation of data privacy, their minimum standards for true
web privacy should include the following:
1. disclosure that users are served cookies, and that having cookies
enabled is optional with no loss in site functionality. (the non-cookie
user would need only to type in their email address each visit)
2. strict confidentiality of all info volunteered by user (registrations
etc) with no disclosure to third party companies (including ad
agencies), unless and until user has been informed, and decides to OPT
IN.
3. giving users who do OPT IN an opportunity to regularly review and
edit their profiles
one of the best way to guard against invasion of web privacy is to
completely disable cookies in the browser. contrary to the disinfo
spread by cookie enthusiasts, most reputable commerce sites do not
require their use. for example, cookies are not needed to make
purchases at AMAZON.COM. you need only log in with your email address
and you have total site functionality- including the ability to resume
shopping with your previous choices held in your basket.
it is an act of arrogance and user-unfriendliness for a company to
insist the user have cookies turned on in order to visit a site since
there are alternatives to cookies for every user function without
subjecting users to clickstream tracking, ad agency spying and data
sharing. the only useful site(s) so far that i have to do without
because i am cookie-free is the New York Times.
given the mood of the public and the media on the growing
personalization controversy, i think the only way federal regulation
can be avoided at this point, is if the ad industry does an about face,
and agrees to make personalization a OPT IN process. let's put the
burden of action on the privacy invader, and not the privacy protector.
--Allan
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
i suggest anyone concerned with e-privacy go to the CDT site and send a
message to the DoubleClick/Abacus network member companies
<http://www.cdt.org/action/doubleclick.shtml>
