Microsoft: the 'Scroogled' Show Must Go On

theodp writes "Microsoft says that the death of its 'Scroogled' ad campaign against Google has been greatly exaggerated. 'Scroogled will go on as long as Google keeps Scroogling people,' said a Microsoft spokesperson. 'Nearly 115,000 people signed a petition asking Google to stop going through their Gmail.' So, is Microsoft's scare campaign justified? Well, in a recently-published patent application for a Method and System for Dynamic Textual Ad Distribution Via Email, Google explains how its invention can be used to milk more money from advertisers by identifying lactating Moms, which might make some uneasy. Google also illustrates how advertisers can bid on access to those suffering from breast cancer, bi-polar disorder, depression, and panic anxiety. Hey, what could possibly go wrong?"

Comments

Reminds me of this story

[jawtheshark]

Google explains how its invention can be used to milk more money from advertisers by identifying lactating Moms, which might make some uneasy

How Target Figured Out A Teen Girl Was Pregnant Before Her Father Did.

All in all, that technology isn't all that surprising to me....

Re:Reminds me of this story

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

I've linked to this in the past, but the privacy statement on the scroogled web page clearly states that they have the right to do exactly what Google is doing.

"We use the information we collect to provide the services you request. Our services may include the display of personalized content and advertising."

http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/default.mspx

Re:Personal medical information

[Anonymous Coward]

except it isnt.. Google isnt selling you access to a persons information, they are selling you access to a target audience, the same thing MS does. There is nothing identifying about it.

0.3% signed the petition

[Branciforte]

Microsoft likes to brag that 115,000 people signed the petition (if we are to believe Microsoft). They also like to brag that 3.5 million people visited the site.

So that means the only 0.3% percent of the site visitors found Microsoft's argument compelling.

Re:So why use it?

[mabhatter654]

ALL email is just POSTCARDS that anybody in the middle can read plainly. I wouldn't be surprised if the big ISPs were all doing it too. After all, it's not "private" until it passes through their servers into your assigned mailbox.

Re:Personal medical information

[Col. Klink (retired)]

...MS says Outlook.com does not scan emails...

Microsoft is very grateful that you paraphrased what they actually said. You see, they actually do scan Subject headers, but not the body itself. But they don't mention that in their campaign and they're very happy that you assumed that they weren't scanning your email at all. But they are.

And Microsoft is certainly profiling you. Here's what they say:

"The extraordinary profile and behavioral targeting on Hotmail, combined with customizable advertising packages and Rich Media solutions, enable you to connect with your audience at the point of influence."

And I'd assume if you didn't want any computer (not people) scanning (not reading) your emails, I'd assume you didn't want a computer tracking your profile/search history. But that's exactly what Microsoft does.

Wrong

[mystikkman]

Here is Microsoft's statement:

Outlook.com only scans the contents of your email to help protect you and display, categorize, and sort your mail appropriately. Just like the postal service sorts and scans mail and packages for dangerous explosives and biohazards, Outlook.com scans your mail to help prevent spam, gray mail, phishing scams, viruses, malware, and other dangers and annoyances. Microsoft and its email services, including Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Office 365, do not use the content of customers’ private emails, communications, or documents to target advertising.

http://www.scroogled.com/OurPosition

Please stop spreading misleading FUD for karma. Your post getting to +4 informative is what's wrong with Slashdot.