Groups Call For Investigation of MS Ad Service

narramissic writes, "The Center for Digital Democracy and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group have filed a complaint with the FTC, asking for an investigation into Microsoft's use of customer data collection in its adCenter Web advertising service. The groups claim that 'Microsoft has embarked on a wide-ranging data collection and targeting scheme that is deceptive and unfair to millions of users.' Microsoft, for its part, says the groups 'have got it all wrong.'"

Well...

That was about contentless, other than blatant MS bashing.

Well, we had older things like the mm2048 and mm256 garbage with Win98 and Win95, along with the NSAkey. The difference is there WAS PROOF.

Where's the proof MS is at it again?

My eyes can't roll any harder, damnit.

I think I'll go off to Google and look up 'eye rolling' to see what friendly vendors might chime in on an organic supplement I might purchase. And if I get any e-mail from my friends on the subject via my gmail box, I'm sure a slightly more targeted ad will help me out even further.

And, if I forget to pursue this until next month, I think I can be comfortable knowing that since Google knows everything, they'll still be there to help me out.

*eyes roll all the way around, back to slashdot*

Doesn't matter! Sue Microsoft! Investigate!

Identity

I'm safe from identity theft. I took all of my ID, and locked it in my luggage I bought off of eBay using Linux. Then I wrapped the suit case in tin foil, and placed it in a secret location (under my bed). If Microsoft wants to get my identity, they'll have to find the suitcase and know my secret 5 digit password...

Where?

Do they have an Ad service? 'cough'

Just because it's MS...?

Question: Did these groups say anything about Google's AdSense?

Honestly, anybody who looks at those targeted ads must realize that information is being harvested to create them. You know what? Good for them! I'd MUCH rather have a service that finds ads of companies I'm interested in than one which either:

1) Slaps up random ads to dating sites, unrelated services also provided by the host company who's service I'm using, etc.

2) Charges me even slightly to offset costs of data storage, server maintenance, R&D, bandwidth, etc.

I know!

They have it all wrong, it was the one armed man!

Interesting but......

The group is calling for an investigation of Online Advertising and Consumer Tracking and Targeting Practices http://http//www.democraticmedia.org/issues/privac y/FTCprivacypr.html/ [http]. It isnt just focusing on M$ but others as well. Hmmmm people see M$ and the blinkers go on I guess.

I'll opt-in with one condition

I would like to opt-in with one condition. MS should be limited to using only piecharts and spreadsheets on my data. No pivot tables, histograms, or Crystal Reports will be allowed to process my usage information.

I only like my data abused in certain ways for free. If they want to pay for the use of my data with the more powerful tools, I may decide to license them that right. They can call me and we'll negotiate an EULA.

with a wave of a hand

*waves hand

that isn't the collected data you are looking for

Replace yro.slashdot.org with fud.slashdot.org?

It's just an idea!

no different than...

Google. Well actually, the truth is Google collects far more information and is much better at it.

The real difference is that MS is telling people what they are collecting and how they use it and Google doesn't. Yahoo is awfully quite on the subject too!

Class action lawsuit, yawn

Justice will be served, just leave it to the lawyers! Valiant "civic minded" lawyers will take up this incredibly important cause. In 9 months, 17 million people will get a confusing letter in the snail mail, explaining in the fine print that they get a free coupon for 3 blank CDs and a check for $3.12, in return for waiving their rights to sue Microsoft themselves. The lawyers will make $378,000 each for their valiant efforts.

just another pig in the poke

considering all the advertising Yahoo, Google, and any other advertising agency that uses the internet, plus all the advertising that gets spewed on Television and Radio, billboards on the side of the road, and all other advertising i missed mentioning, microsoft is just another pig in the poke looking to shove its hungry snout in to the swill...

__all advertising sucks, if i need something i will let you know, until then = STFU!

This just in...

...someone has filed a complaint against Microsoft. News at 11.

More Details?

What does Microsoft do that Yahoo, AOL, and Google haven't been doing for their search/advertising for years now?

Google collects more data than Microsoft

The recent AOL data leak showed that as big or bigger threats can come from our search data. These folks are grandstanding by going after Microsoft and not the other players. They know that no one will criticize them for bashing Microsoft and that others, like Google have better press and have folled more users, and so are tougher targets. Also, as opposed to Google, Microsoft is more sensitive to the criticism because of the past anti-trust issues and are more likely to respond. Google's response to people like content owners who don't like Google's use of their copyrighted materials without permission, have found that Google's reaction is to claim they are doing public good and then fight in court.

The best example of the threat we face to our privacy from all of these folks is Google. Not Google bashing, just pointing out that they are collecting the most data about us. Google is also collecting more of our use and web patterns through Google desktop and toolbar. Add in the fact that they have your cell number, are indexing your email, have your calendar, etc. Our only protection is they sya that their culture is to "do no evil", but we don't know who defines "evil" and what that definition is. What if the Chinese government wants the data? Will Google provide it so they can stay in the market? They caved on filtering.

Whether is is Microsoft, Google, Yahoo or someone else, the more we are online the more we are telling third parties about us and we have no protections about what they do with the data. These folks all have "terms of use" and simply by using their services you've agreed to them, even if you didn't actually read the terms (almost no one does and most don't even see the link). And if you read the TOS you are pretty unlikely to know what they collect and what they do with it.

Good that the discussion is starting, but wrong target. It is really the whole lot of these guys

Which is why

Which is why nobody should use their real name when filling in the customer information papers.
It's another great reason why nobody should use their real name on msn.

If you don't want to be used by businesses, don't give them more than they need;
and remember, you decide what they need, they don't.
Don't let yourself be used.

here it gets a bit repetative, for the sake of knocking common sense into some people:
don't let them use you!

I know, I'm preaching to the choir :P but this isn't even common sense with all techies.