demedia's blog

Groupon's IPO filed at the SEC raises a number of key issues, including the need to protect Internet and mobile privacy in the emerging era of hyper-local tracking and targeting.  For example, the IPO refers to the recent hearings on mobile privacy chaired by Sen. Rockefeller and also Sen.

Google's revelation of a possible China-based phishing attach on Gmail users has become big news--even leading off the BBC telecasts.  In its post on the incident, Google frames the issue as "ensuring your information safe online."  But missing from its discussion is its on work to harvest and mine user data in China--and other regions nearby.  So much consumer information is being scooped up by Google and other online giants in the lucrative China and APAC market t

If we needed additional evidence that the online ad lobby doesn't understand and respect the privacy concerns of consumers, all you need to do is read the report in Paidcontent on the attack of WSJ journalist Julia Angwin by Evidon's CEO.  It reported that "Evidon CEO Scott Meyer suggested that the tone of the WSJ series about digital privacy, called

Microsoft Research is the home of a number of initiatives, including work based in Beijing designed to advance behavioral targeting.  Microsoft has made it clear that targeting young people online on behalf of advertisers, including for junk food, is one of its highest priorities.  Not surprising, Microsoft is now conducting "research" into youth privacy issues.  One of the

The Article 29 Data Protection Working Party, the EU's consortium of data commissioners, have again demonstrated why they and the EU are in the forefront of addressing digital privacy issues.  The group's new opinion on "Geolocation services on smart mobile devices" is an important document [available as pdf].  In addition to a technical analysis, the Opinion calls for greater control by a mobile user over the collection of mobile and location data, including a more meaningful "opt-

It's always telling what companies testifying before Congress don't say, in addition to how they carefully describe the issues. This week's mobile privacy hearing chaired by Sen.

The use of neuromarketing by digital marketers to influence "non-conscious reactions" to advertising is a key consumer protection concern.  Yahoo has unveiled a new study that combines behavioral targeting with neuromarketing techniques.  Working with neuromarketing company Innerscope Research, Yahoo hooked up 60 people to biometric equipment that measured their "heart rate, skin conductance, respiration, kinesthetic differences" and eye movements.  The goal w

Facebook is headed to 700 million users.  It's important that the social site be transparent in terms of its relationships with powerful players--whether they are the largest global brands or governments.  Facebook's new sales chief--Carolyn Everson (who also worked for MTV and Microsoft)--says a great deal about Facebook's direction in an Advertising Age interview.  Here are some excerpts.  Think about what Facebook gives, in terms of access and information, to its largest a

China is the ultimate digital ad prize for many global marketers, given its large middle class, youthful population, and embrace of mobile devices.  But online marketers engaged in behavioral targeting and other forms of data collection, profiling, and online surveillance need to operate with human rights and privacy in mind.  Microsoft already has an lab in Beijing that works on behavioral targeting.  Now comes Yahoo.  As t