Online Tracking Firms To Launch Opt-Out Program 102
storagedude writes "Threatened by the prospect of tougher US online privacy legislation, a handful of data collection companies have banded together to create a voluntary system for consumers to see what information companies have and to opt out of cookies or edit the data collected. The Better Advertising Project's Open Data Partnership is a long way from a viable solution — scores of tracking and big-name online companies have yet to sign on to the effort — but it is nonetheless the first attempt to put all this online tracking data in one place. Coupled with Microsoft's announcement this week that it plans to add a do-not-track mechanism to IE9, it appears that the FTC's call for a do-not-track system may be gaining some traction. The Open Data Partnership will be particularly interesting, as consumers will be getting a good look at the data collected about them. Better Advertising already lets consumers opt out of some behavioral ad targeting, and about 5% of those who click through to learn more actually opt out (PDF, slide 5). It will be interesting to see if the opt-out rate changes after consumers see what data is actually collected."
To be clear, they aren't saying they'll stop collecting the data. They'll just make it available to users and let people opt out of getting ads based on the information, or simply remove anything they don't want shared.
Legislation will be needed. (Score:5, Insightful)
While the Open Data Partnership is a start, there are scores of online tracking and major internet companies that have yet to sign on to the effort.
That's where legislation comes in - you can't get 100% compliance without it. All you need is just one company to refuse to join and this opt-out program will fall apart.
Anyway, opt-out?!? Everything is becoming fucking opt-out. And if you don't know about something, how the fuck do you "opt-out:?
Fucking marketing people and their techie sell-out scumbags.
Why opt out? (Score:3, Insightful)
Why should users have to opt out? It would make more sense to make tracking opt in. If tracking is useful for users surely they'd want to opt in.
Re:Opt out rates are low eh? (Score:5, Insightful)
And those of us who do know about tracking have long since learned that any attempts to opt out actually result in more tracking/advertising/spam/whatever else you opt out.
Unless the perpetrators are actually trackable and reliably fined, there is no chance an opt-out system can work. The only case so far that _mostly_ (not completely) works is the Do-Not-Call phone list in the US. Here in Europe we have strict laws about protecting personal data, but unless a company loudly announces it has data of this kind these laws are unenforceable.
No silly - Opt in! (Score:5, Insightful)
No ad system will ever be acceptable to me unless it's "Opt In"!
Look, I'm internet savvy and resourceful. I can think for myself. If and when I want some product I will seek it out. None of your "throw your shit in my face" will make me want to buy your product. In fact it alienates me - IOW it has the opposite effect. Get this through your thick skull - people like me who actively use things like AdBlock are not your customers and never will be. We will seek out and buy things using the wonderful internet as a research tool if and when we - not you - determine we need your product. You'd be best to spend your ad dollars on making a stellar product!
Re:Why opt out? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's hard to convince someone that what they're doing is wrong, when their job depends on it.
Re:Opt out rates are low eh? (Score:4, Insightful)
Add the people who don't even think that it will be heeded and is hence a waste of time to go through the hassle to opt-out, and the people who think it's a trap to collect even more data, and I'm kinda surprised that 5% actually remain to opt-out.
Opt out via cookie most likely... (Score:2, Insightful)
I can just picture it...
"""
Please come to our URL, enter your name, address, and and email so we can insert a cookie indicate you do not wish to be tracked to our partners.
Caution: If cookie is deleted, tracking may resume until you opt out again
"""
This measure is utterly hopeless unless it's double opt-in and comes with a measure whereby employees can be rewarded a years salary (at company expense) for reporting violations. Even the do not call lists in the US are an utter failure.
I get lawyers calling me half a dozen times a week trying to collect on the old phone number of the prior user--from FIVE YEARS ago. I have two dozen company's claiming they have a business relationship who refuse to stop calling. People hang up when you say the words TCPA--but will put you on the do not call list. The FTC themself refuses to enforce or take complaints regarding TCPA violations where people leave messages improperly, or call cellular numbers. And the one manager I ever got to reply said I should put my number on the do not call list. This just in--calling a cell number to make sales is already illegal save under very specific circumstances. The laws on the book are already not enforced.