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Verizon Is Merging Its Cellphone Tracking Supercookie with AOL's Ad Tracking Network

Posted by Soulskill on from the evil-boring-voltron dept.

schwit1 writes: ProPublica reports that Verizon is giving a new mission to its controversial hidden identifier that tracks users of mobile devices. Verizon said in a little-noticed announcement that it will soon begin sharing the profiles with AOL's ad network, which in turn monitors users across a large swath of the Internet. That means AOL's ad network will be able to match millions of Internet users to their real-world details gathered by Verizon, including — "your gender, age range and interests." AOL's network is on 40 percent of websites, including on ProPublica.

13 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Well if this is true by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Then both those companies are shitbags. There should be strict industry regulation of this kind of thing (ads, tracking, etc) a lot better than currently is.

    1. Re:Well if this is true by ganjadude · · Score: 4, Insightful

      even if it isnt true... .both the companies are still scumbags

      --
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    2. Re:Well if this is true by tripleevenfall · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It would appear that a new, previously undiscovered species of scum has been isolated in this case.

    3. Re:Well if this is true by nmb3000 · · Score: 2

      Then both those companies are shitbags.

      Well, at least Verizon is telling people about it (albeit discreetly). Who knows how much sharing goes on behind the scenes?

      There should be strict industry regulation of this kind of thing (ads, tracking, etc) a lot better than currently is.

      If you even pretend to care about your privacy or reject this kind of advertising, it's better to just assume the worst. Block all advertising. Block all third-party scripts. Strongly consider blocking unknown first-party scripts.

      And finally, next time someone in advertising or marketing whines about ad-blockers, consider following my wildly successful three-step program:

      1) Explain that it's their own greedy-ass fault that people block this shit.
      2) Punch them in the face.
      3) Remind them that they should probably just commit seppuku.

      --
      "What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
      /)
  2. Change in contract by spacepimp · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I would hope this is considered a contractual change and that all customers are hereby free of obligation to Verizon.

    1. Re:Change in contract by EndlessNameless · · Score: 2

      Such clauses are likely to be deemed unconscionable and thus unenforceable.

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      According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
  3. And Companies Wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...why people block ads and tracking if they are able. I do. I've said this before and I've taken flak for it, too, but I really miss the Blackberry heyday. Blackberry devices and the company in general didn't track the daylights out of people like Apple, Google, and Microsoft are wont to do. I am seriously considering going back to a Blackberry Classic. I don't use a single app that my mobile phone didn't ship with. I rarely, if ever, browse whilst using my mobile phone. I text and email, that's about it.

    Ever care to notice that we are now choosing what amounts to a feudal lord when we pick a handset. And then we proceed to get locked down. Blackberry, while not perfect, was/is better in this regard.

  4. You can opt out. by olsmeister · · Score: 5, Informative
    You shouldn't have to, but you can.

    Relevant Mobile Advertising
    AOL is now part of Verizon, and we will soon combine Verizon's Relevant Mobile Advertising program into the AOL Advertising Network. These programs use certain customer information to help make the ads you see more interesting and useful.

    The Relevant Mobile Advertising program uses your postal and email addresses, certain information about your Verizon products and services (such as device type), and information we get from other companies (such as gender, age range, and interests). The AOL Advertising Network uses information collected when you use AOL Services and visit third-party websites where AOL provides advertising services (such as web browsing, app usage, and location), as well as information that AOL obtains from third-party partners and advertisers.

    We do not share information that identifies you personally as part of these programs other than with vendors and partners who do work for us. We require that these vendors and partners protect the information and use it only for the services they are providing us.

    These programs use online and device identifiers, including AOL browser cookies, ad IDs from Apple and Google, and one created by Verizon, known as a Unique Identifier Header (or UIDH). When the Verizon and AOL programs are combined, the UIDH will be inserted in certain web traffic that is sent only to Verizon companies (including AOL) and to certain partners who will be authorized to use the UIDH only as part of Verizon and AOL services. More information is available about the Relevant Mobile Advertising program and the UIDH.

    You have a choice about whether to participate in the Relevant Mobile Advertising program. The UIDH discussed above will stop being inserted in web traffic from your device after you opt out of the Relevant Mobile Advertising program, but will still appear for a short period of time after you opt out. Please note that if you opt-out of Relevant Mobile Advertising, but you have opted in to Verizon Selects, you will continue to receive relevant advertising and the UIDH will remain present.

    You also have choices about how AOL uses information for advertising purposes.

    1. Re:You can opt out. by Stickybombs · · Score: 3, Informative

      Link to opt out: https://ebillpay.verizonwirele...

  5. The best summation I've seen by sootman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Past:
    Users: "Please do not track us."
    Companies: "Fuck you."
     
    Now:
    Companies: "Please do not adblock us."
    Users: "Fuck you."
     
    https://twitter.com/vonWolfehaus/status/647141176403865601

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    1. Re:The best summation I've seen by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yup, they track the hell out of everyone and everything, and then complain when people try to stop it.

      Look for sponsored articles in the media soon about how ad-blocking is "theft" or "stealing".

      Full disclosure: I run a bunch of web sites and some of them display ads (mostly google, but a few others as well). And I'm fine with people visiting my sites and using an ad-blocker if they want to. I don't block or ban people who don't want to see the ads, that's their right. It may mean that some of my sites will disappear eventually due to lack of revenue, but that's just the way the world works. I have no right to force people to see ads and I'm not going to be a dick about it.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    2. Re:The best summation I've seen by roc97007 · · Score: 2

      If the ads are appropriate, I'm ok with them. Like reasonably sized camera gear on a photography site, small, silent biker gear ads on a motorcycle forum. I may even occasionally click on them. And I kinda like the Roadkill and Snorg ads that have pretty girls. But full page video popovers of some car commercial? Screw that. With a really big screw.

      I guess you could say that the more obnoxious sites (are you listening, seattlepi?) are ruining it for everyone else.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  6. I guess it's time ... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... for Google to change its slogan from "Don't be evil" to "Don't be Verizon".

    On the other hand... it's a new TV spot opportunity for Verizon: "Can you fear me now?"

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