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You're effectively suggesting people take all their business offline again. When I walk into store (a) it's reasonable to assume that store (a) might be observ

You're effectively suggesting people take all their business offline again. When I walk into store (a) it's reasonable to assume that store (a) might be observing my behaviour, along with perhaps a sub-contracted security company etc. It's less reasonable to assume that walking into store (a) gets me observed by stores b-z and subcontractor 1-255 which is more like what happens on the web. They don't generally follow around town for the rest of the week either. Go to web site or store and get observed by Google, Facebook, and dozens of assorted analytics companies who will then endeavour to track you wherever you go next, for as long as possible. Now then, ignoring JS and adblocking for a moment, which mainstream ecommerce or news sites can one frequent in order to adopt the "100% effective solution" of not being tracked?

Erwin 9y ago
Sounds like applying the web tracking to the real world could be the next evil business idea. When I somehow get upgraded to business class while flying it is rather flattering to be greeted by the stewards by name while being offered a glass of decent champagne. What if your store could do the same for people considered social influencers or "whale" spenders? As they enter the store, dispatch your Personal Shopper squad to gently welcome them, and nudge them towards purchases -- or if nothing else, a little social media moment worthy to share with their followers. Perhaps their social posting history will reveal a hyper-personalized special offer that can make them buy that $2000 handbag.
- jstarfish 9y ago
  > Sounds like applying the web tracking to the real world could be the next evil business idea. At what point does this behavior run afoul of stalking laws?
mcgarnagle 9y ago
"Walking into a store can get you observed by stores b-z and subcontractior 1-255" Well what about the new amazon retail store, that records your every move? Also what about stores or shopping malls that contract their security cameras out to other companies? Surely those security companies may be doing all kinds of stuff with people's facial recognition data.
- oldcynic 9y ago
  Most of the new data landscape is only adopted reluctantly - no shopper was given a choice in this. The fact that consumers feel powerless, and every medium to large business feels they must grab all the data possible, doesn't make it right. Amazon's high street store is an easy to avoid aside until a Tesco or Walmart tries it. I hope that GDPR restricts the extent of "all kinds of stuff" that companies wish to do to cctv security footage. I suspect it won't be nearly enough. The trouble with cctv is the consumer/shopper has effectively no way of knowing thus should be quite strictly regulated.

Erwin 9y ago

Sounds like applying the web tracking to the real world could be the next evil business idea. When I somehow get upgraded to business class while flying it is rather flattering to be greeted by the stewards by name while being offered a glass of decent champagne. What if your store could do the same for people considered social influencers or "whale" spenders? As they enter the store, dispatch your Personal Shopper squad to gently welcome them, and nudge them towards purchases -- or if nothing else, a little social media moment worthy to share with their followers. Perhaps their social posting history will reveal a hyper-personalized special offer that can make them buy that $2000 handbag.

jstarfish 9y ago
> Sounds like applying the web tracking to the real world could be the next evil business idea. At what point does this behavior run afoul of stalking laws?

mcgarnagle 9y ago

"Walking into a store can get you observed by stores b-z and subcontractior 1-255" Well what about the new amazon retail store, that records your every move? Also what about stores or shopping malls that contract their security cameras out to other companies? Surely those security companies may be doing all kinds of stuff with people's facial recognition data.

oldcynic 9y ago
Most of the new data landscape is only adopted reluctantly - no shopper was given a choice in this. The fact that consumers feel powerless, and every medium to large business feels they must grab all the data possible, doesn't make it right. Amazon's high street store is an easy to avoid aside until a Tesco or Walmart tries it. I hope that GDPR restricts the extent of "all kinds of stuff" that companies wish to do to cctv security footage. I suspect it won't be nearly enough. The trouble with cctv is the consumer/shopper has effectively no way of knowing thus should be quite strictly regulated.