Big Brands and Adware

I’ve discussed before how privacy/spyware concerns are going to restrict behavioral targeting related spending by big, well known brands.

This might be the first step in that process. From the article:

THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION’S efforts against adware have so far focused on the supply side by filing lawsuits against companies that unlawfully install ad-serving software. Now, one agency commissioner says it might be time to target demand, by naming the big brands that use adware to market their products.

“A little shaming here might go a long way towards protecting consumers’ safety and privacy,” said the FTC’s Jonathan Leibowitz

It is important to note that this effort is not just associated with Spyware, but with any behavioral targeting technology:

Walter Mossberg, tech columnist for The Wall Street Journal ,went even further — condemning not just adware and spyware, but also cookies placed on consumers’ computers by ad-serving and analytics companies that he said “are under the delusion that it’s okay to force their way into our computers for advertising, marketing and research purposes.”