demedia's blog

Among the most vocal opponents of protecting children's privacy online in the mobile/location data tracking and targeting era is ACT (Association for Competitive Technology), which claims it is a "international grassroots advocacy and education organization representing more than 5,000 small and mid-size app developers and information technology firms."   But who is really behind the`we represent the small gals/guys' facade?

Statement of Jeff Chester, CDD Exec Director, in response to the DAA announcement today saying its members will not honor Do Not Track requests from consumers using Microsoft and other browsers designed with privacy by design safeguards:
 

With kids privacy at stake, including on mobile devices, and the online ad lobby up in digital arms because the FTC is proposing a parent be in better control of data collected from children 12 and under, we need you to speak out.  Special interest digital advertising industry lobbyists, joined by databrokers, and kids content and toy companies are teaming up to pressure the Federal Trade Commision so it won't support safeguards.  The petition is

The same comedy writers at Facebook who wrote about the glories to be from its IPO--now a colossal joke--were just put to work again in the social ad network's new FTC comments on children's privacy (COPPA).  Like the hype used to blur the real financial prospects of Facebook, its arguments against strengthening rules to better protect children 12 and under from intrusive and manipulative digital data collection practices are based on a lack of candor.  Undoubtedly, Mark Zuckerberg and company will be peddling the Brooklyn Bridge for sale soon.
 

Remember the names ValueClick and 33 Across, because they are behind in part the mean-spirited smear campaign against protecting our privacy on the Internet.  They have helped launched a special interest, closed-door, inside the Beltway campaign to derail Do-Not-Track (DNT).  Do Not Track could help stop some of the outrageous spying on Inte

For the last several years, we have been investigating and writing about the role of the online lead generation industry, especially as it relates to the consumer financial marketplace.  There are a range of disturbing practices related to targeting an individual online for various financial and credit products.  Working with our colleage Ed Mierswinski at USPIRG, we have been raising the policy issues with Congress, the FTC and now with the new C

We hope mobile and online ad industry leaders will be proactive providing the public, through the Obama Administration privacy initiative, an account of app related data practices.  Here are some excerpts from mobile marketing company Adfonic, which serves the app market.  Take a look at what they do and ask yourself--don't we need to have an informed and honest discussion of the app targeting system and its relationship to mobile marketing?

excerpt: 

There's so much that should have been said about the mobile environment at yesterday's White House led privacy meeting organized by the NTIA.  Sadly, the Administration failed to take responsibility to ensure that all the issues are presented early and fairly.  Many consumer groups have been concerned about the Department of Commerce's role in the process--especially whether they would place the interests of business ahead of consumers/general public.  The NTIA choose low hanging "fruit loops" in the mobile space by focusing on so-called transparency.  The

Yesterday's NTIA stakeholder meeting failed to address the actual mobile marketing data collection practices consumers confront in both the "app" and overall mobile/geo-location market.  Neither the industry nor the Department of Commerce appears interested in ensuring that the public actually knows about the issues and practices that should be addressed in any "code of conduct" to protect consumers using mobile devices and related applications.  C