MAIN EVENT. A Good Place to Get Started --- a.k.a "Table of Contents"
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MAIN EVENT. A Good Place to Get Started --- a.k.a "Table of Contents" |
| MY GLASS HOUSE | THE PREVIOUS EVENT | THE NEXT EVENT | THE WRITERS/GUIDELINES | |
| I received a copy of an e-mail from Loyal Reader Jean H., up in the state of Washington, this week which made me think about how Information Technology is being used against people's interests
Here's a little background: Jean, as you or I might do, accepted a "cookie" (a bit of code that Web sites can send to you to track your visits to their site) from the Internet advertising concern DoubleClick. When she read press coverage of the fact that DoubleClick without her knowledge or consent was collecting data with this cookie about her "click-stream"(the places she goes on the Internet), her buying habits on- and off-line, she was a little bit upset. So she decided to delete the DoubleClick cookie from her hard drive. But, lo and behold, when she checked her drive the next day, DoubleClick had placed a new cookie. Again, without her consent. She decided to write them. This is the point where she decided to include Yours Unruly in the communications loop. Now I'll shut up for a while and let Jean talk.
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Scott McNealy said it: There is no such thing as privacy in the Info Age.
"You are no longer a person. You are just another commodity to us." |
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Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 11:25:54 -0800
To: rod@g21.net Subject: Interesting item for you DoubleClick.net piously advises they will remove you if you visit their "opt-out" site. I did, and was informed of the ID number they had given me and now had changed to a generic opt-out "cookie." Imagine my interest when (using NSClean which identifies all cookies) showed up two days later with that same ID number on a cookie! I removed it, and promptly this morning acquired yet another cookie from them, this one with a NEW ID number.
I e-mailed them right after I saw the old number on another cookie, but I've not heard back from them. Surprise, surprise.
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 10:30:06 -0800 To: Kevin McAleavey Subject: G'morning Thought you might be mildly interested in hearing of yet another reason why I so much like NSClean. Surely by now you've heard of this outfit called DoubleClick.com and their cookies to trace everyone's surfing habits, info they give to advertisers. Very piously they supply a section of their website where the "tagees" can, to use their words, opt out. When you do so, they tell you what your ID number is (which, of course, I already knew, thanks to NSClean), tell you it is removed, and henceforth you are to remain untagged. My, but they do know how to lie. Within two days, I had another cookie with another number, and I deleted it. Then the original number came back. I went to their website and saw their disclaimer that I had NO cookies, and I was looking right at it. I deleted it again. This all took place in three days, and I've acquired three new numbers in just yesterday alone. I sent an e-mail to their Support address and got a message last night that my concerns had been given to an adjustor, I think was the word, who would be getting in touch with me shortly. Got another number after that e-mail. Since I imagine most people have no way of taking a good look at the cookies they accumulate, I'm happy to be in the minority who can continue holding their toes to the fire. Keep up the good work, Kevin. |
| This last message is for your edification, Loyal Readers.
Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 23:16:34 -0800
Sure.Ý I've acquired another new ID number from them just today.Ý They are a miserable bunch, aren't they?
Below is Kevin's response, just for your info. Ý
Thanks for the kind words!
Anyone who has been reading MEMOIRS for any amount of time knows my feelings about what Jean is going through and about personal privacy.
I read these types of e-mail with trepidation and anger.
And I think that anyone involved in Info Tech should be concerned and step up to the plate on these issues. If we don't, who will?
Like I say every week in our sidebar: TAKE THE RISK OF INVOLVEMENT.
It's very late (or early, depending upon your point of reference) as I type this story to you. I'm hoping it's worth my losing sleep to ask you to think about these issues. |
TAKE THE RISK OF INVOLVEMENT.
 or make it.
You ARE responsible for the future of your children. |
MEMOIRS OF THE INFORMATION AGE ARCHIVES
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© 2000, GENERATOR 21.
E-mail your comments. We always like to hear from you. Send your kudos, brickbats and suggestions to rod@g21.net.