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Is Online Privacy Getting Better?

Posted by timothy on from the the-cat-bag-is-wide-open dept.

jeffy124 writes: "It appears marketers are finding that there's little value in stockpiling the personal info of web users. Either that or they're responding to the negative feedback of users. In a survey of 400 commercial websites, when compared with figures from a 2000 FTC study, more sites have more prominent and explanatory privacy policies, less carry third-party cookies, less collect personal info, and more use opt-in collection. The study was performed by the Progress & Freedom Foundation, and the full report can be found here." Note that the Progress & Freedom Foundation is an industry-sponsored group which generally favors a non-regulated online marketplace.

6 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. Commercial dialogue... by tongue · · Score: 3, Funny

    [reporter] do you have a privacy policy?
    [company A] why of course. It is the policy of this company that all personal and private information is jealously guarded with utmost secrecy from the time of collection *cough*until*cough*we*cough*cough*sellit*cough*hig hest*cough*bidder*.
    [company B] we collect no personal information on our website. we've found its much easier to buy mailing lists and any personal info we need off russian hackers whenever we need new credit cards^h^h^h^h^h^h^h^h marketing prospects. besides, its quite simple to buy information from Company A Media Promotions, Inc.

  2. Terms and conditions by pubjames · · Score: 5, Funny

    I love some on the terms and conditions you find on the Megacorps websites.

    This from the Disney site:

    If, at our request, you send certain specific submissions (e.g., postings to chat, boards, or contests)[...] (collectively, the "Submissions"), the Submissions shall be deemed, and shall remain, our property. [...] Without limitation of the foregoing, we shall exclusively own all now-known or hereafter existing rights to the Submissions of every kind and nature throughout the universe and shall be entitled to unrestricted use of the Submissions for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without compensation to the provider of the Submissions.

    This is a gem: we shall exclusively own all now-known or hereafter existing rights to the Submissions...

    And I love that throughout the universe bit.

    1. Re:Terms and conditions by PhxBlue · · Score: 3, Funny

      And I love that "throughout the universe" bit.

      But they didn't specify whether they meant their universe, or the universe that the rest of us live in.

      --
      !#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
    2. Re:Terms and conditions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      What happens when you submit an already copyrighted work. Do they claim all rights to that?

      What happens if you send the complete text of the Bible. Do they now own all rights to the bible/ It is public domain, you can write it without attribution or licensing fees.

      I think these statements are completely rude, and terribly wrong, and frought with problems mentioned above. Someone should copyright a post, give a friend non-exclusive, non-transferable rights to reproduce it, and have that friend post it to Disney, along with the copyright notice. Then sue Disney if they try to claim rights to it.

  3. Forms by Kizzle · · Score: 4, Funny

    Since few people actualy put valid info when subscribing to free web stuff, I think we are going to start seeing banner ads targeting 60 year old woman with 12 kids that make $900,000 a year. So screw privacy, be truthful on online forms.

    --
    Hacker Media
  4. banner grammar by realgone · · Score: 2, Funny

    Twelve kids, each making $900,00 a year? Let's see... that's $10.8 million?!?! Hell, what company wouldn't want to target that 60-year-old woman with its banner ads?