Slashdot Mirror
Online Purchases Can Give You Away
Abhishek writes "New Scientist reports that Retailers could guess your age, sex, birthday and wedding anniversary simply from the types of gifts purchased for you online and their timing, according to a patent granted to online retail giant, Amazon.
The information could be used to remind your loved ones of an impending special occasion and offer gift suggestions.
Currently Amazon makes personalised suggestions to customers based on previous purchases by that customer, previous web pages browsed and comparisons between customers who have bought similar products. But the company may vastly increase its predictive capability in the future."
Combine this with Geo-Targeting and it's amazing to know what web sites can find out about you without your consent.
It's like an involuntary a/s/l check from web sites you visit.
I'm a big tall mofo.
The patent describes software that automatically guesses ...
I got birthdaycards from several companies who also guessed my birthday by looking in the database. Also some emails from companies that did the same.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
Amazon already asks if you wish to receive reminder notices for events. If you make a profile, you can choose to get such notices. "Special Occasion Reminders" are listed under "Gift Services"
Actually, after browsing Amazon a bit too much over a period of years, they give me some excellent suggestions. Their predictive lists are good. I shop for me, and a husband, and 4 boys, so I suppose that anything that they list would hit one of us. I have eclectic interests, and vacillate from one hobby to another and back again. They always pop up with something that I gasp, "Ohhh! I want THAT!"
Isn't their a law regarding this? Something about consent from a parent if the child is 13 or younger?
Why should their be a law on guessing the age or birthday of someone?
"Hey kid, you look 11, and judging by the fact that you're blowing candles out at a Chuck E Cheese, I will wager your birthday is TODAY!"
"Lock him up and throw away the key!"
No, thankfully the law is only regarding whether or not your can ask children under 13 for personal information.
Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.