p2pnet - rss feed: Google dismisses DoubleClick fears
p2pnet.net news:-Google says it’ll ignore concerns centring on its deal with online lurker DoubleClick which, after an all-encompassing PR makeover, is now presenting itself as wholesome and clean.
“Ten years ago, Tim Berners-Lee invented the web,” posted Alan Herrell in 2000, going on, “Five years ago, the advertisers discovered it. This year, with DoubleClick’s concoction of the poisoned cookie, the advertisers are about to ruin it for pixel mechanics and privacy advocates alike.”
Google has just bought DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in cash.
In the background, there’s a swelling wave of concern on the part of privacy advocates and the general public alike over whether or not the likes of Google, whose Do No Evil slogan is becoming increasingly tarnished, and DoubleClick can be trusted with confidential information.
With more and more reports of users being compromised - Yahoo is currently being sued over confidentiality issues which resulted in two Chinese bloggers being jailed, say reports - these fears are realistic.
But Google chairman Eric Schmidt is reported to have said US regulatory approval of the acquisition of DoubleClick, “will not be hindered by concerns over privacy”.
Analysts tend to agree, continues Associated Press.
“We’re quite convinced that the proposed merger meets all of the appropriate U.S. laws and is ultimately very good for consumers and for advertisers and publishers,” it has Schmidt stating.
EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) is kleading consumer advocacy groups who are asking the FTC to investigate the privacy implications of the acquisition, says AP.
“The groups said in their April 20 complaint that the two companies, when combined, would have access to an unprecedented amount of data on consumers’ Web usage and Internet search habits,” it adds.
Also See:
Alan Herrell - Clickthru Is Evil II, February 22, 2000
$3.1 billion - Google buys DoubleClick, April 14, 2007
currently being sued - Yahoo in new China dissident lawsuit, May 31, 2007
Associated Press - Google chairman says privacy concerns won’t scuttle DoubleClick acquisition, May 30, 2007
If your Net access is blocked by government restrictions, try Psiphon from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk Centre for International Studies. Go here for the official download, here for the p2pnet download, and here for details. And if you’re Chinese and you’re looking for a way to access independent Internet news sources, try Freegate, the DIT program written to help Chinese citizens circumvent web site blocking outside of China. Download it here.
rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile - http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php | | And use free p2pnet newsfeeds for your site
Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local politicians. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance. Don’t just complain. Do something!
