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Americans Don't Want Targeted Ads

Posted by timothy on from the might-prefer-them-to-endless-tampon-ads-though dept.

itwbennett writes "A survey by the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology at the University of California Berkeley School of Law and the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania finds that US residents do not want to receive Web advertising tailored to their interests. 66% of those surveyed said they don't want tailored, or targeted, online ads and when asked if online ad vendors should deliver targeted ads by tracking customers' behavior across multiple Web sites, 86% of the 1,000 respondents said no. 35% of respondents said executives of companies that use personal information illegally should face jail time, and 18% said those companies should be put out of business. 'While privacy advocates have lambasted behavioral targeting for tracking and labeling people in ways they do not know or understand, marketers have defended the practice by insisting it gives Americans what they want: advertisements and other forms of content that are as relevant to their lives as possible,' the study said. 'In high percentages, [US residents] stand on the side of privacy advocates.'"

8 of 404 comments (clear)

  1. damn straight! by NoYob · · Score: 5, Funny
    How the hell am I going to explain to my wife why there are ads for hairy milf porn all over the place?!

    No targeted ads!

    --
    It's NOT me! It's the meds! I'm on 1000mg of Fukitol.
  2. Re:And.... by mcgrew · · Score: 5, Funny

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  3. Re:Yes and No by mewsenews · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just a few hours ago I wrote my wife to say I had gotten a stain on my shirt from lunch

    I want to ridicule you for leading the most boring life imaginable, but we're both posting to Slashdot, so I will welcome you as a brother..

  4. non-targetted ads helped me grow up by fhuglegads · · Score: 5, Funny

    If all I ever got was targeted ads I would know nothing about feminine hygiene products. Knowing these dirty little secrets that women have is part of being a teenager. I would have missed out on a lot of immaturity if all they showed me was ads for Atari 2600 games, pizza and the pepsi challenge.

  5. Re:And.... by ari_j · · Score: 4, Funny

    Marketers absolutely do care about this information. Now, they only have to figure out what types of ads to target to people who don't want targeted ads, and they can make billions.

  6. Re:And.... by ae1294 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I told Hulu that I'm a 20-something guy. You'd think they'd realize I'm not worried about my "inadequate lashes" or wrinkles..

    You didn't mention that you where a member of slashdot did you???

  7. Re:And.... by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd go further and say consumers actually DO want this (i.e. the benefits it provides) - but just won't admit it.

    AKA the rapist defense. She said no, but we both knew she really wanted it.

    --
    If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
  8. Re:Exactly by More_Cowbell · · Score: 4, Funny
    I don't click them either, but mostly for other reasons.
    1. Those ads cost the company money every tim
    --
    Experience teaches only the teachable. -AH