Microsoft Using Personal Data to Target Ads

Posted by timothy on Thursday December 28, 2006 @05:27AM from the so-be-good-for-bidness'-sake dept.

smooth wombat writes "Microsoft is combing personal data with your search habits to produce targeted ads. Users who use Microsoft's Hotmail email service, msn.com news service and other Microsoft-owned sites will see ads specific to their demographic and interests. From the article: 'Microsoft executives say the system works anonymously and they won't pass on people's names or addresses to advertisers. Executives say they want to foster confidence in users to build a long-term business, and one that gives an incentive to not misuse personal details.' "We're in the early days of behavioral targeting but it's an idea whose time has come,' says Simon Andrews, chief digital strategy officer for WPP Group's MindShare, a large buyer of ad time. 'There is a lot of potential to know if people have been looking at specific sites.'"

3 of 139 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Fish are the town, people are the barrel man. by vmfedor · 2006-12-28 05:29 · Score: 4, Funny

This article is sure to be greeted positively by the Slashdot community!

--
I like my women how I like my sugar.. granulated.
Clippy by justkarl · 2006-12-28 05:43 · Score: 5, Funny

"I see you're trying to search for Porn. Would you like to try Microsoft Porn for free?"
1. Re:Clippy by __aaclcg7560 · 2006-12-28 05:50 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Why would I since my desk drawer has a ton of naked paper clips? :P