Da-Chief
06-18-2008, 09:35
http://i.dslr.net/urls/89/4689.gif (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Charter-NebuAD-Trials-Delayed-95379)
Last month, the ranking members of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee, Edward Markey (D-MA) and Joe Barton (R-TX), sent a letter (http://markey.house.gov/docs/telecomm/letter_charter_comm_privacy.pdf) to Charter CEO Neil Smit. That letter took issue with Charter's decision to sell user browsing history to NebuAD in order to deliver tailored ads (a "service" Charter claims (http://www.corpsman.com/shownews/94466) is as good as delivering faster speeds). The letter asked Charter to put a hold on the project since it's not clear it's even legal.
The shoddy opt-out process used by NebuAD uses cookies and opts users out of tailored ads, but not online tracking. Therefore it could run afoul of several laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA); the Communications Act of 1934; and the Cable TV Privacy Act of 1984. Earlier this month a group of fifteen consumer advocacy organizations sent a letter (http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20080606markeybarton.pdf) (pdf) supporting a Congressional investigation into such systems.
Charter was originally supposed to begin testing the new system this week, but has delayed the trials, according to Online Media Daily (http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=84797). However, the company claims the delays were not caused by the Congressional inquiry and are instead technical in nature; a spokesman saying the tests "will happen when we're technologically ready."
An insider at another ISP informs me that NebuAD is working on an IP address-based opt-out system that could potentially run afoul of fewer laws. Facing Congressional inquiries and a potential investigation into behavioral advertising, I'd imagine that Charter is attempting to make sure that all of their legal ducks are in a row before proceeding. They could be waiting on this revamped opt-out system.
Interested readers may want to check out my interview (http://www.corpsman.com/shownews/91797) with NebuAD CEO Bob Dykes, as well as my discussion with ISP employees who aren't thrilled (http://www.corpsman.com/shownews/94835) with their companies' use of the technology.
More...
Last month, the ranking members of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee, Edward Markey (D-MA) and Joe Barton (R-TX), sent a letter (http://markey.house.gov/docs/telecomm/letter_charter_comm_privacy.pdf) to Charter CEO Neil Smit. That letter took issue with Charter's decision to sell user browsing history to NebuAD in order to deliver tailored ads (a "service" Charter claims (http://www.corpsman.com/shownews/94466) is as good as delivering faster speeds). The letter asked Charter to put a hold on the project since it's not clear it's even legal.
The shoddy opt-out process used by NebuAD uses cookies and opts users out of tailored ads, but not online tracking. Therefore it could run afoul of several laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA); the Communications Act of 1934; and the Cable TV Privacy Act of 1984. Earlier this month a group of fifteen consumer advocacy organizations sent a letter (http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20080606markeybarton.pdf) (pdf) supporting a Congressional investigation into such systems.
Charter was originally supposed to begin testing the new system this week, but has delayed the trials, according to Online Media Daily (http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=84797). However, the company claims the delays were not caused by the Congressional inquiry and are instead technical in nature; a spokesman saying the tests "will happen when we're technologically ready."
An insider at another ISP informs me that NebuAD is working on an IP address-based opt-out system that could potentially run afoul of fewer laws. Facing Congressional inquiries and a potential investigation into behavioral advertising, I'd imagine that Charter is attempting to make sure that all of their legal ducks are in a row before proceeding. They could be waiting on this revamped opt-out system.
Interested readers may want to check out my interview (http://www.corpsman.com/shownews/91797) with NebuAD CEO Bob Dykes, as well as my discussion with ISP employees who aren't thrilled (http://www.corpsman.com/shownews/94835) with their companies' use of the technology.
More...