Digital Privacy

A firestorm of anger has erupted in the advertising industry against the decision of Microsoft to incorporate a Do-Not-Track turned on as default system in the forthcoming edition of its Internet Explorer (IE) browswer.  The online ad lobby--including the self-regulatory group called the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA)--is fearful of having better privacy as the default.  They know that defaults matter, and that from the get-go the millions of IE users may be sending a powerf

CDD is the co-author of the TransAtalantic Consumer Dialogue policy statement on mobile marketing and privacy--entitled "Protecting Mobile Privacy in a Hyper-local World."  It raises many of the key concerns often not part of the debate.  On 5 June 2012, at the US State Department, this document was given to officials from the EU's DG Justice, the FTC and the US Department of Commerce.

The data collection on individuals is accelerating, who increasingly find themselves in a maze constructed of their online and offline information.  This can affect how creditors and others view your financial status--and has real-life implications for a consumer's future prospects.  Later this week, USPIRG and my CDD will present a paper on this issue at a conference hosted by the National Consumer Law Center and Suffolk University Law School.  Meanwhile, here is an excerpt from a recent industry post that ill

The online ad industry developed its data-collection business model without ever considering the privacy consequences.  Advocates and regulators have forced the industry to begin to address the privacy and some of the digital consumer protection issues.  But the commitment to privacy from the industry is tepid, at best.  Afterall, the harvesting and analysis of massive amounts of information from and about us is the digital golden goose enriching Google, Facebook, WPP and others.  In order to fight regulation, the US online ad lobby dreamed up their "icon"

Both the EU and FTC will have to address real-time buying and selling of users and their data.  We have helped place this issue on the policy radar screen both in Brussels and DC.  But we are stepping up our efforts, and intend to make sure real-time sales of users becomes a key privacy issue.  AppNexus, a leading real-time provider and data company Brilig just made this announcement, which is emblematic of the problems.  Excerpt:

Today we filed Comments on the Obama Administration's privacy plan via the Dep't of Commerce proceeding. Highlights below.
 

excerpt from Microsoft Advertising and Solution Overview (our emphasis).
 

The folks at Google need to do some soul-searching--and fast.  With the EU and others gathering evidence on the failure of Google to candidly inform users of the real reasons for its new privacy policy, the company really risks suffering from serious reputational harm.  There's no reason why Google can't admit to its users that the name of the game on online data

This letter was sent today to US and EU policymakers.

Our chapter in a new edited volume called European Data Protection: In Good Health? is now published.  It survey's the contemporary digital data tracking and online marketing landscape.  It pulls back the curtain on many digital marketing practices and claims.  Worth a look, as they say, if you have time.  More info here.