Slashdot Mirror
US Consumers Clueless About Online Tracking
Arashtamere writes "A study on consumer perceptions about online privacy, undertaken by the Samuelson Clinic at the University of California and the Annenberg Public Policy Center, found that the average American consumer is largely unaware that every move they make online can be, and often is, tracked by online marketers and advertising networks. Those surveyed showed little knowledge on the extent to which online tracking is happening or how the information obtained can be used. More than half of those surveyed — about 55 percent — falsely assumed that a company's privacy polices prohibited it from sharing their addresses and purchases with affiliated companies. Nearly four out of 10 online shoppers falsely believed that a company's privacy policy prohibits it from using information to analyze an individuals' activities online. And a similar number assumed that an online privacy policy meant that a company they're doing business with wouldn't collect data on their online activities and combine it with other information to create a behavioral profile."
US customers are too clueless to change their browser options.
Also, a privacy policy is like a EULA: only lawyers can understand what it means and the rest of us blindly accept.
proud caffeine whore
Ignorance is bliss. Ever since GWB set his foot in the oval office, Americans have proven that we don't really listen to what's going on with our privacy. I don't know if we are to blame the media. Maybe it's in our nature to ignore it. Or maybe a combination. Either way, we have shown that we don't care enough to make a difference, which is why sites can do this - because, supposedly, no one bothers.
Full Tilt
It had 3 unnecessary words. It should have read only: 'US Consumers-Clueless'