Re: Is Invasion of Privacy The Answer?

From: John Gaskill <gm_at_info-central-usa.com>
Date: Thu 22 Mar 2001 09:37:29 -0600

CHARLES LEWIS <webmaster_at_webprozone.com> WROTE:

>If these smart, moneyed, task-oriented consumers *want*
>this helpful, relevant info that addresses their specific
>interests and needs, they will still have to view ads.
>
>My point is that some day they will no longer be
>un-targeted billboards -- but each ad will be specifically
>targeted to a certain person based on information about
>them collected through various sources. Consumers will be
>identified by their IP addresses, and banners will be an
>extinct species (YES!)

Given the rise of large national ISPs, using IP addresses
to get information other than the country location or the
firm name of a web surfer will be an unreliable way to
target "individuals." Although a large block of IP numbers
may be assigned to XYZ Widget, which division of Widget
is using them may not be clear from the WHOIS data
obtainable, absent a criminal investigation.

Search IP addresses at:

http://ipindex.dragonstar.net/index.html
                   or
http://cello.cs.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/slamm/ip2name
                   or
http://www.arin.net/whois/index.html

to see how detailed the information you get is.

>A few examples of these might be cookies which reside on
>their computer, surveys they have taken over the course of
>their life on the Internet, etc, etc.

>Here's what I'm worried about:

>Invasion of my privacy will be the only way for advertisers
>to launch that *surgical strike* marketing campaign. Do I
>have a problem with that?

>No -- absolutely not
>...just so long as it's used for the purpose it was intended.

If the information obtainable from the internet allows
a marketer to launch a "surgical strike" and send a
targeted banner to only you and a few others, without your
consent, what is to stop the same targeting provider from
selling that information about you to someone with other
designs?

The first time someone knocked on the front door of
your home and said, "Excuse me, but we thought your
love of knitting might make you a prime candidate for
Skeins-of-the-Month Club..." might cause you to
change your tune.

The answer to the question of "intended purpose"
lies with the target of the advertising. What's OK
with you might not be OK with me and 98% of
the of the intended ad audience.

My $ 0.02.

Regards all,

John

John Gaskill
gm_at_info-central-usa.com
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Received on Thu Mar 22 2001 - 09:37:29 CST