CyberLaw Blog

Archive for June 6th, 2008

Watching while you surf: “(Economist)
Is it a worrying invasion of privacy for web surfers, or a lucrative new business model for online advertising? A new ‘behavioural’ approach to targeting internet advertisements, being pioneered by companies such as Phorm, NebuAd and FrontPorch, is said to be both of these things. The idea is that special software, installed in the networks of internet-service providers (ISPs), intercepts webpage requests generated by their subscribers as they roam the net. The pages in question are delivered in the usual way, but are also scanned for particular keywords in order to build up a profile of each subscriber?s interests. These profiles can then be used to target advertisements more accurately.”

(Via QuickLinks Update.)

Cavalcade of privacy watchdogs bark for data pimping probe: “

Deep packet inspection goes to Washington

Fifteen privacy watchdogs – yes, fifteen – have tossed a letter at Congress, urging the House Telecommunications Subcommittee to hold public hearings on the use of so-called behavioral ad serving technologies. They want further scrutiny of ISPs pimping customer data to the likes of Phorm, NebuAd, and Front Porch.…

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(Via The Register – Public Sector.)

Max Hardcore Jury Returns Guilty Verdict: “Jurors in the Max Hardcore obscenity trial have returned a verdict of guilty on 10 federal counts of distributing obscene materials over the Internet and through the mail.”

(Via XBIZ.com | News & Articles.)