Yahoo Responds to Icahn While Constructing Google Deal

Yahoo has issued a formal response to investor Carl Icahn, who announced his intent to oust the company's board. The search company attracted Icahn's mad eye when it rejected Microsoft's takeover bid, even after Ballmer raised the offer price. "A fair-minded review of the factual record leads to one conclusion: that Yahoo!’s ten-member board, comprised of nine […]

Posted: Friday, May 16th, 2008

Prospective Yahoo/Google Deal Generates Minority, Rural Pushback

Google is getting a glimpse of what objections a deal with Yahoo might raise, reports the BBC. 16 American civil liberties groups have banded to scuttle any likelihood of a liaison between the two companies. Groups include the National Black Leadership Forum, which itself is comprised of 36 organizations, and the League of Rural Voters. The grand […]

Posted: Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

Phorm Still Has a Lot of Public Relations to Do

Despite Phorm's self-styled aggressive stance on user privacy, UK customers remain adamantly distrustful of the service, reports ISPreview. A survey of 1090 ISPreview readers found 57 percent would leave their ISP if it partnered with Phorm to serve targeted advertising. Phorm works with ISPs to track online activity, then creates unique profiles of users interests. Relevant ads […]

Posted: Monday, May 12th, 2008

Facebook Soups Up Security, Partners with 49 Attorneys General

To buttress users against inappropriate conduct and content, Facebook has joined ranks with 49 Attorneys General. "Building a safe and trusted online experience has been part of Facebook from its outset," said Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly. "We are proud to join 49 states and the District of Columbia in affirming our commitment to these principles." Per its […]

Posted: Friday, May 9th, 2008

NJ Court Determines Web Users Have the Right to Privacy

A New Jersey court has ruled internet users have the right to expect their online activity will be private, reports MediaPost. During the case, which dealt with a criminal matter, the court ruled a user's IP address cannot be disclosed to police by an ISP without a grand jury subpoena. It likened IP information to […]

Posted: Friday, April 25th, 2008

Google Slow to Act on Cookies Pledge

Google has been slow to make any of the changes it promised regarding collection and storage of private user data, reports The Financial Times. At issue are cookies, which are dropped on user's computers. Cookies track web activity and are used to deliver targeted ads. Last year, Google said it would consider revising its cookie policy […]

Posted: Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

Industry Buzz & Snippets: 4/17/08

Ad Networks and Analytics: Tremor Media has launched Acudeo, a video ad delivery platform that gives publishers control over when and where ads appear in videos. Buddy Media announced the creation of a "social media ad network" open to select developers of Facebook and OpenSocial applictions. IAC is rolling out its HealthCentral ad network, using the site it […]

Posted: Thursday, April 17th, 2008

NAI: Ad Targeting by Health Conditions Should Be Off-Limits

In a response to the FTC, the Network Advertising Initiative said behavioral ad targeting should not — and would not — take medical conditions into account. The Federal Trade Commission has been seeking comment on proposed guidelines for self-regulation in behavioral ad targeting. The NAI admonished the FTC not to put too much weight on privacy […]

Posted: Monday, April 14th, 2008

Behavioral Targeting (Mostly) OK by Consumers — If Privacy, Security Safeguards Instituted

Most US adults are uncomfortable about websites using online activity to customize content or ads. But if site privacy and security policies are improved, most would be comfortable with the practice, according to a new study, writes MarketingCharts. Specifically, the Harris Interactive survey found: Six in ten (59 percent) are not comfortable when sites like Google, […]

Posted: Monday, April 14th, 2008

Phorm Comes Out Rosy on Ripa, Plans to Launch Opt-Out Switch

Facing allegations that it falls afoul of a privacy law called Ripa, Phorm enlisted a third-party to assess its tracking and behavioral ad-serving technology. It also appealed to the UK's Leading Council and Home Office, equivalent to the US Department of Homeland Security. The Home Office is the only body that can raise a formal […]

Posted: Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

600 YouTube Users See Footage of Gang Rape

This week YouTube suffered reprimands from MPs after failing to remove footage of a gang rape. VP and General Counsel Kent Walker of Google attributed the mishap to "human error," according to the Guardian. "Our reviewers review a lot of material and in some cases simply just make a mistake," he said. The rape was viewed […]

Posted: Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

Virgin Media Considers Three-Strikes Policy for UK Piracy

UK ISP Virgin Media and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) are discussing the possibility of a "three-strikes" copyright policy, reports Ars Technica. The policy would boot copyright infringers offline after three infractions. BPI enforcement agents would detect IP numbers for users on illegal P2P networks, then alert Virgin, which will warn violators multiple times before resorting […]

Posted: Tuesday, April 1st, 2008

Online Fraud Liability Coverage a Mystery to 68% of Shoppers

Fraud protection and security are important for online shoppers. But 68 percent of those that use a credit card don't know how much they would be liable for if their card or data were stolen, according to an eBillme report conducted by JupiterResearch, writes MarketingCharts. The result is hesitation during the online checkout process — and […]

Posted: Monday, March 31st, 2008

To Adopt Mobile P2P Payments, Consumers Want Speed and Security

Demand for high-speed mobile person-to-person (mobile P2P) payments and transfers is growing, with one in ten consumers saying they would likely use the service if it were available, according to a report by Javelin Strategy and Research, MarketingCharts writes. Still, 67 percent of consumers surveyed express clear hesitance using mobile P2P payment services, saying they […]

Posted: Friday, March 28th, 2008

PrivacyFinder Weds Privacy Concerns to Search Experience

PrivacyFinder aims to help people take an active role in protecting their privacy while searching online, reports the Electronic Freedom Foundation. PrivacyFinder is a project of the CMU Usable Privacy and Security Laboratory. The website, free to use, boasts a number of features that privacy advocates have publicly advocated as crucial: It only retains data on user […]

Posted: Friday, March 28th, 2008

NY Assemblyman Rallies to Impose Limits on User Data Mining

A New York assemblyman has drafted a bill to limit the gathering of online user information for advertising purposes, reports The New York Times. Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky's bill would levy fines against companies like Google, Yahoo and others that collect personal data for targeted ads without user permission. If it passes, firms will be […]

Posted: Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Interpretation of 'Ripa' May Retard Behavioral Ad Delivery in UK

The UK's Foundation for Information Policy Research (Fipr) has published an open letter to the Information Commissioner, dubbing Phorm, an online ad system, illegal. Fipr said Phorm violates the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Ripa), developed to protect users from illegal information interception. The final interpretation of Ripa will determine whether Phorm — and other […]

Posted: Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

On-the-Go Mobile Purchases, Banking on the Rise

One in four cell phone users with mobile internet access use their devices to buy goods and services online. And nearly one in five say they would like to someday use cell phones as a "mobile wallet," finds a Harris Interactive study, MarketingCharts reports. Other findings: Smartphone or iPhone users are more likely to "occasionally" use their device […]

Posted: Monday, March 17th, 2008

Copyright Holders, Japanese ISPs Lay Smack Down on Piracy

After an increase in complaints from the entertainment and software industries, four major Japanese ISPs have agreed to work with copyright holders to fight piracy. Under the agreement, copyright holders will use "special detection software" to track down illegal file sharers, then alert ISPs, according to TorrentFreak. ISPs will then send out warning emails, then interrupt file […]

Posted: Monday, March 17th, 2008

Amazon Brings Giver, Grapevine Apps to Facebook

Amazon has officially hopped aboard the Facebook train with the release of two apps: Amazon Giver and Amazon Grapevine. Giver imports user Amazon wishlists to their Facebook profiles. Friends can buy listed items for each other without having to go to Amazon's website. The app also makes suggestions based on user interests listed in the profile. Giver […]

Posted: Thursday, March 13th, 2008