I've got to agree here. I've worked in these systems on the marketing side
a) anonymity is taken incredibly seriously - even WITH the technology available it is understood how people feel about privacy and in some cases even suggesting a system that could make partial identifications has resulted in being swiftly admonished.
b) Marketing people are trying to help. Remember, they are not technical, they feel they are performing a huge service to the end user and the advertiser by doing this.
What is more likely is that DoubleClick tracks surfing habits and generates a usage profile which demonstrate general interests (for instance, many people who visit slashdot use linux and a not inconsequential number like to eat blue m & ms). This allows DoubleClick to serve ads that are of interest to that particular group...in addition, taking that information you can create a model of an ideal target to crossreference with your named database (making the assumption that the Abacus database contains some useful information with regards to hobbies, employment etc), which can then be used for a targetted mailing campaign.
Yes, perhaps a couple of people in the mailing list surfed those sites but it was because their data profile matched.
People also seem to forget about the sheer volume of data that's there, I think its more than a little egotistical to believe that anyone is interested in YOU as a person. Yes, it may feel 'funny' because you're aware of your own capabilities with regards to using information that our computers generate, and yes, you've tracked down the odd spammer or idiot in a chat room - now multiply that information by a couple of million - the noise drowns out any individuality you may have had.
Matching names to id tags? for what purpose? Personally I dont have time to wade through information to find an anonymous person from idaho who may or may not have visited a hacking site or porn. And neither does anyone else.
Even going out on an extreme limb - ok the company isnt doing it, so the FBI order them to pull your profile?? for what?! The sites that the FBI are interested in are very unlikely to use DoubleClick as their ad server, and no, the banner companies dont cooperate so there's little chance that they can build a huge picture of everything you've done online.
I used to feel paranoid about cookies until i worked in this sector and saw that they really aren't interested in who you are, they do care about making your web experience better - that seems like weird logic but they figure you'd prefer to see banner ads about things you're interested in rather than things you're not. Unfortunately the web has to be funded by something, banners are a way for many sites to keep their information available for free.
Slashdot Mirror
I've got to agree here. I've worked in these systems on the marketing side
a) anonymity is taken incredibly seriously - even WITH the technology available it is understood how people feel about privacy and in some cases even suggesting a system that could make partial identifications has resulted in being swiftly admonished.
b) Marketing people are trying to help. Remember, they are not technical, they feel they are performing a huge service to the end user and the advertiser by doing this.
What is more likely is that DoubleClick tracks surfing habits and generates a usage profile which demonstrate general interests (for instance, many people who visit slashdot use linux and a not inconsequential number like to eat blue m & ms). This allows DoubleClick to serve ads that are of interest to that particular group...in addition, taking that information you can create a model of an ideal target to crossreference with your named database (making the assumption that the Abacus database contains some useful information with regards to hobbies, employment etc), which can then be used for a targetted mailing campaign.
Yes, perhaps a couple of people in the mailing list surfed those sites but it was because their data profile matched.
People also seem to forget about the sheer volume of data that's there, I think its more than a little egotistical to believe that anyone is interested in YOU as a person. Yes, it may feel 'funny' because you're aware of your own capabilities with regards to using information that our computers generate, and yes, you've tracked down the odd spammer or idiot in a chat room - now multiply that information by a couple of million - the noise drowns out any individuality you may have had.
Matching names to id tags? for what purpose? Personally I dont have time to wade through information to find an anonymous person from idaho who may or may not have visited a hacking site or porn. And neither does anyone else.
Even going out on an extreme limb - ok the company isnt doing it, so the FBI order them to pull your profile?? for what?! The sites that the FBI are interested in are very unlikely to use DoubleClick as their ad server, and no, the banner companies dont cooperate so there's little chance that they can build a huge picture of everything you've done online.
I used to feel paranoid about cookies until i worked in this sector and saw that they really aren't interested in who you are, they do care about making your web experience better - that seems like weird logic but they figure you'd prefer to see banner ads about things you're interested in rather than things you're not. Unfortunately the web has to be funded by something, banners are a way for many sites to keep their information available for free.