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Microsoft: the 'Scroogled' Show Must Go On

Posted by Unknown on from the campaigns-everyone-forgot-about dept.

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?"

3 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. The computer cannot tell what's confidential by J'raxis · · Score: 0, Troll

    It's more than just creepy; Google could get in some pretty big trouble if they scan confidential emails and start advertising products based on keywords therein. Imagine someone is communicating with a lawyer or some public official about a confidential matter and suddenly they start getting advertising that could only be relevant based on keywords found in those confidential emails. Google could be in for a lawsuit or even prosecution depending on what they get caught snooping on. What's their defense going to be, only Googlebot knew about your emails to that defense attorney or social worker or abuse counselor, not an actual human being? Good luck with that.

    --
    Liberty in your lifetime
  2. Re:Scroogled, ha ha by mystikkman · · Score: 1, Troll

    Microsoft doesn't do personalized ads based on email contents.

    http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-compares-outlookcom-to-gmail-and-yahoo-mail-releases-new-video

    Thanks for engaging in the Fallacy of Grey to deflect criticism of your favorite company, Mr. Google Shilll.

    http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Continuum_fallacy

  3. Re:Personal medical information by mystikkman · · Score: 0, Troll

    AFAIK Bing / MS Mail (whatever its called now) has historically scanned email in the same way as google

    How can Bing scan personal email? Do you have any references? Or at least about "MS mail" scanning emails?

    Also, MS says Outlook.com does not scan emails, so stop spreading stupid anti-Microsoft FUD. It makes you and the moderators who modded it up +5 interested look like idiots.