Doubleclick's worst attack on privacy

[happyhamster]

As some of you may have already heard, the leading internet advertising company Doublecick is going to employ technology that will allow them to connect your internet browsing behavior with your real identity and address. They are planning to share it with their "business allies". The story was originally at USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/cth211.htm, (http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/cth211.htm) and many news sites followed. A big uproar was on Slashdot, of course: http://slashdot.org/yro/00/01/25/2356236.shtml
I think it's time for some sort of privacy-protecting law in US.

[This message has been edited by happyhamster (edited 01-26-2000).]

[daveleau]

Your first link is broken.
Dave

Is this the same one? http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/cth211.htm

[This message has been edited by daveleau (edited 01-26-2000).]

[U-96]

Haha bring it on!!!!!!



Right to prevent processing for purposes of direct marketing.
11. - (1) An individual is entitled at any time by notice in writing to a data controller to require the data controller at the end of such period as is reasonable in the circumstances to cease, or not to begin, processing for the purposes of direct marketing personal data in respect of which he is the data subject.

(2) If the court is satisfied, on the application of any person who has given a notice under subsection (1), that the data controller has failed to comply with the notice, the court may order him to take such steps for complying with the notice as the court thinks fit.

(3) In this section "direct marketing" means the communication (by whatever means) of any advertising or marketing material which is directed to particular individuals.



Data Protection Act 1998
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/19980029.htm

[daveleau]

I emailed a complaint to them and forwarded it to my Congressman and will let you know if I get reply. I guess I need to get a banner blocker. Off to find one...
Dave

[happyhamster]

Technically, there's a couple of things you can do. Many of them were discussed on Slashdot: http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/cth211.htm

First is, of course, using any of dozens ad blockers available.I can recommend Junkbuster: http://www.junkbusters.com/ for more technically inclined, or cutie Webwasher: http://www.webwasher.com/ for everybody else.

You could also simply disable cookies in your browser, since they're using them for tracking.

The solution I liked most for cleverness is adding their servers to your "hosts" file, and assiciating them with 127.0.0.1. It's described at http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~atman/spam/adblock.html along with suggested list of most annoying advertising servers.

Good luck.

[jad1097]

This is not good.Guess it is time to start running @guard again.