3 ms·

Quoting me: Google uses search activity from the past several hours to help match ads in adsense for content[1]. Hiding those from other ad networks is,

by earl 14y ago

Quoting me: Google uses search activity from the past several hours to help match ads in adsense for content[1]. Hiding those from other ad networks is, imo, one of the best reasons they should be sued for antitrust. So: Google is a monopoly / near monopoly search engine in the US and Europe. Many ad networks use the query string located in the referer from outgoing search clicks to help target ads. AFC, a Google owned and operated ad network, uses this information as per blog post linked by me somewhere in this thread. Google has recently started hiding search query strings by stripping them from the referrer for logged in users and has made noise that sounds like this will eventually happen for all users. This hurts ad networks because it removes some of the intent they use to help target ads, and crucially hurts the most when trying to target ads on low information pages. However, Google can certainly internally continue to give this information to adsense in order to target content. This is the sort of thing antitrust law is meant to prevent: using a monopoly in one area (search and sem) to juice your business elsewhere (display ad network).

maxerickson 14y ago
I understand that you are complaining about https. I'm pointing out that the article you linked doesn't provide any insight into what data Google is sharing internally.
- earl 14y ago
  Google is known -- by their own blog! -- to use this data for ad targeting. Until they say they aren't, it's more than reasonable to assume they continue to use it for ad targeting. They are certainly aware of other ad networks using the search query string: employees have mentioned it in conference talks. If they were using no more information than any other ad network has access to, it would be trivial for them to publicly say so. Until then, I suggest writing the FTC.

by earl 14y ago

maxerickson 14y ago

I understand that you are complaining about https. I'm pointing out that the article you linked doesn't provide any insight into what data Google is sharing internally.

earl 14y ago
Google is known -- by their own blog! -- to use this data for ad targeting. Until they say they aren't, it's more than reasonable to assume they continue to use it for ad targeting. They are certainly aware of other ad networks using the search query string: employees have mentioned it in conference talks. If they were using no more information than any other ad network has access to, it would be trivial for them to publicly say so. Until then, I suggest writing the FTC.