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Anti-Google Video Runs In Times Square
Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times reports that Consumer Watchdog is running a 540-square-foot video billboard advertisement in Times Square, New York that shows Google CEO Eric Schmidt as an ingratiating ice cream truck driver who knows everything about everyone and happily offers free ice cream in exchange for full body scans. The group says its goal is to push Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to create a Do Not Track Me list, similar to the Do Not Call list developed to prevent telemarketers from aggressively calling consumers. 'Do you want Google or any other online company looking over your shoulder and tracking your every move online just so it can increase its profits?' writes the group's president, Jamie Curtis, at the group's web site. 'Consumers have a right to privacy. They should control how their information is gathered and what it is used for.' The FTC's consumer affairs group had no comment on whether the agency is considering creating a Do Not Track Me list."
Exactly, and the REAL Google would know that, unlike this fake-ass Google knock-off going around trying to kill off the lactose intolerant.
You know, that's a very good point. the only way to NOT track somebody, IS TO TRACK THEM.
Except it's not a good point and what you said is not true. It's very simple to not track someone without knowing a single thing about them. By default you set up your system to not store any information about a user of your website unless you've obtained their consent. Wow, that was hard.
There are quite a few signs pointing to Microsoft funding them. Searching 'Microsoft' on http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/ gives you mostly Google results, despite Microsoft being a convicted monopolist with a long history of abuse, which is the kind of thing a consumer watchdog should be reporting on
This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
The company that ran this promotion (Consumer Watchdog) has been using Google Analytics. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/09/03/businessinsider-anti-google-privacy-group-consumer-watchdog-is-tracking-your-clicks-with-google-analytics-2010-9.DTL Hypocrite, much?
You want to opt-out of being tracked by Google? Simple:
http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
You change your mind about using Google and want to export all your data? Simple:
http://www.dataliberation.org/
The website/organization behind this ad doesn't even mention those links.
You think MS gives you options like this? Facebook?
I'm a big supporter of legit consumer organizations, like the BBB, but this one is clearly bogus. By supporting and giving attention to an organization like this we undermine the legit ones.
Why is this ironic?
They are a shill group paid for by MS to astroturf, so they need to know how well they are doing
(see http://techrights.org/2009/05/04/consumer-watchdog-exposed/)
Microsoft: http://techrights.org/2009/05/04/consumer-watchdog-exposed/