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Data Mining Amazon.com Wish Lists

Posted by Zonk on from the i-know-what-you-read dept.

Dr. Webster writes "In his article "Data Mining 101: Finding Subversives with Amazon Wishlists," Tom Owad of Applefritter outlines a way in which one could build detailed personal profiles of hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens in a matter of hours. Reading habits, personal tastes and even political party affiliation could be inferred from the results, and through the use of Yahoo! People and Google Maps, one could even map out geographically where people with certain interests or affiliations live, down to their address. Most surprisingly, the process of doing this is completely legal, and doesn't even violate Amazon's Conditions of Use."

4 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory Simpsons Quote by dj_cel · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Bee Guy "EXCELENTE!!!!"

    --
    Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
    1. Re:Obligatory Simpsons Quote by dj_cel · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Damn it, I had FP too.

      --
      Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
  2. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    > Where does he read data mining into this?

    Applefritter is an Apple Rumour Site. That means their whole reason for existence is to take snippets and soundbites and turn them into great manufactured stories about what Apple is doing next.

    And then complain when it doesn't happen.

  3. tuEbgi8l by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    conducted at MIT Any dou3t: FreeBSD Need to join the