4 ms·

Fta: >ast month the Irish Council for Civil Liberties revealed that RTB data was used to profile LGBT+ people to influence a national election, and that RTB da

Fta: >ast month the Irish Council for Civil Liberties revealed that RTB data was used to profile LGBT+ people to influence a national election, and that RTB data had been used to profile victims of incest and sexual abuse. Excuse me? This is awful. This is worse than target figuring out a personally identifiable female minor was pregnant before her parents, which is despicable behavior.[0] From 0: >But even if you’re following the law, you can do things where people get queasy.” I haven't advocated prison for companies malvertising before. That changes today. We all have a responsibility to do right by each and these tactics are inhumane, predatory, and cause measurable harm in the real world. If any of you are doing this type of work I strongly urge you to quit in protest and blow the whistle. I was queasy until I read this report. Now I'm completely outraged. I'm going to stop ranting now because even having to say these things is absolutely ridiculous. I can't even. 0. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-target-figured-out-a-teen-girl-was-pregnant-before-her-father-did/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2012/02/16/how-targ...

zwaps 6y ago
Yes. The majority of tracking and ads businesses are illegal or doing illegal things, at least here in the EU. GDPR exists, and so do national privacy laws. While this example is especially vile, let us not forget that vileness is the modus operandi for these firms, generally.
- g_p 6y ago
  I agree most of the tracking and adtech is straightforward textbook illegal, and the norm in the sector. The issue I have is the general lack of enforcement. Selective enforcement of standing laws is ripe for abuse, and creates a situation where every rational actor assumes they'll never be first to be hit, as everyone else does it too... It seems to me right now what we need is high throughput bulk and even prosecution of each and every violator, one by one. After the first few take place, and the pace of enforcement is made clear, this will become a higher priority to the rest of the sector (who will subsequently be prosecuted for their misconduct in any case, to ensure even handedness). Clearly there are practical issues around trying so many cases, but this is where regulators need to innovate in the same way tech companies innovate to defeat regulations. Perhaps we need hearings to establish illegality of a set of actions, and simpler fact finding hearings to merely determine that given conduct fit into that illegal set of actions. Strict liability offences (prove it was done, no need to prove fault or intent) could also help (where appropriate).
cblconfederate 6y ago
It's not much different than identity politics, though.
- xg15 6y ago
  Please explain.
  - cblconfederate 6y ago
    Identity politics target people based on their private properties for nefarious political reasons.
    - Jolter 6y ago
      You have clearly not even bothered to look up what the term means before swinging it around. Please come back when you’re willing to do better.
- chownie 6y ago
  Identity politics is almost completely unrelated to the topic at hand and does not carry the definition you've used later in the thread. This is about unethical uses of data post collection.
srtjstjsj 6y ago
RTB = Real-Time Bidding An advertiser targets their ads to profile characteristics and then they know that anyone who clicks the ad is a match. (Any maybe some ad systems don't require a click?)

zwaps 6y ago

Yes. The majority of tracking and ads businesses are illegal or doing illegal things, at least here in the EU. GDPR exists, and so do national privacy laws. While this example is especially vile, let us not forget that vileness is the modus operandi for these firms, generally.

g_p 6y ago
I agree most of the tracking and adtech is straightforward textbook illegal, and the norm in the sector. The issue I have is the general lack of enforcement. Selective enforcement of standing laws is ripe for abuse, and creates a situation where every rational actor assumes they'll never be first to be hit, as everyone else does it too... It seems to me right now what we need is high throughput bulk and even prosecution of each and every violator, one by one. After the first few take place, and the pace of enforcement is made clear, this will become a higher priority to the rest of the sector (who will subsequently be prosecuted for their misconduct in any case, to ensure even handedness). Clearly there are practical issues around trying so many cases, but this is where regulators need to innovate in the same way tech companies innovate to defeat regulations. Perhaps we need hearings to establish illegality of a set of actions, and simpler fact finding hearings to merely determine that given conduct fit into that illegal set of actions. Strict liability offences (prove it was done, no need to prove fault or intent) could also help (where appropriate).

cblconfederate 6y ago

It's not much different than identity politics, though.

xg15 6y ago
Please explain.
- cblconfederate 6y ago
  Identity politics target people based on their private properties for nefarious political reasons.
  - Jolter 6y ago
    You have clearly not even bothered to look up what the term means before swinging it around. Please come back when you’re willing to do better.
chownie 6y ago
Identity politics is almost completely unrelated to the topic at hand and does not carry the definition you've used later in the thread. This is about unethical uses of data post collection.

srtjstjsj 6y ago

RTB = Real-Time Bidding An advertiser targets their ads to profile characteristics and then they know that anyone who clicks the ad is a match. (Any maybe some ad systems don't require a click?)