Digital Privacy

The Direct Marketing Association has not played a positive role in the debate over privacy.  For example, it (absurdly) has worked to exempt all the forms of data collection marketers do from the proposed Do Not Track safeguard.   As it plans for its big Washington, DC conference, look at how it frames the problem:
 

As part of the comprehensive system of commercial surveillance tracking us 24/7 wherever we go and do, more companies are integrating offline and purchasing data with online information.  But when the largest commercial database of individuals around the world marries its user data with the ton of consumer records held by Acxiom, Epsilon, Bluekai and

CDD has obtained a Yahoo! lobbying document being given to EU policymakers.  Yahoo! is working to undermine pending legislative proposals that would significantly strengthen the rights EU citizens have regarding the collection and use of their information.  Entiled "Yahoo!

The Better Business Bureau is a member of the Digital Advertising Alliance (DMA, IAB, 4As, ANA).  Yet they are responsible somehow for evaluating how companies comply with the icon-based privacy program adopted by the commercial data marketing industry.  We have raised concerns about the efficacy of the icon.  The BBB just approved Facebook's use of the icon for its far-reaching data targeting system known as the Facebook Exchange.  Already barely viewable, the tiny icons are to be used by Facebook via a

This letter was sent today to top Obama Administration officials. 

In the European Union, privacy is a fundamental Human Right.  So it’s no surprise that leading EU officials are supporting a proposal that place citizens and consumers in better control of their information (or, as its called in the EU, ensuring “data protection”).   Many in the EU understand the stakes, as today’s digital tracking and profiling technologies enable far-reaching surveillance and influence on individuals. 

The dramatic growth of the data broker industry, fueled by  information on consumers culled from the Internet, social media, mobile phones, and in-store shopping,  has created a multitude of all seeing eyes spying on Americans everyday.  A digital gold mine of infinite details is harvested about each of us--what we buy, who are friends are, how much we earn, our ethnicity, health concerns, location, etc.   For the most part, these records are off limits to consumers, who can't really discover what they say about us--including the likely errors they may contain.

Facebook engaged in a "Thanksgiving surprise" last week, announcing changes to its "Rights and Responsibilities" system of involving users in its decisions on data collection and privacy.  It also announced plans designed to make additional collection of data readily available for them to use, including from so-called affiliates.  Through its Facebook Exchange and