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>Is it really a privacy issue to track what ads you click and use that information to target advertisements to you later? I found it hard to reply to this and

by spain 12y ago

>Is it really a privacy issue to track what ads you click and use that information to target advertisements to you later? I found it hard to reply to this and I think its because you framed the question in a strange way. Targeted advertisement is not only based on what ads you click, but also the sites you visit and the stuff you view on them. If targeted advertising only worked based on what you'd click I wouldn't have a problem with it since I never click ads and it would be that easy to opt-out of it. Targeted advertising itself is a whole other thing. In order for it to work, they need to gather data about you and this doesn't always happen in obvious ways (e.g. clicking on an ad) and that means you can't always opt-out of it, which makes it a breach of privacy in my book.

justinpaulson 12y ago
So what? If they are using that information to cater ads to you, what is the problem? What are they using this information for other than targeting ads?
- spain 12y ago
  It doesn't matter, it's a breach of my privacy regardless of what they use it for.
  - justinpaulson 12y ago
    Well I think giving out information to a company over the internet isn't really privacy. They aren't collecting any information that you aren't freely giving up. So I think the debate is really skewing what the term "privacy" means. No one is breaking into your computer and finding out what is in your private files, they are just collecting data you are openly giving out. Your public record.
    - Nursie 12y ago
      >>They aren't collecting any information that you aren't freely giving up They don't present a choice. Most non-tech people don't have a clue they're being recorded. Especially not that they're being recorded in great detail across multiple sites so that advertisers and marketers (many of whom have exceedingly questionable ethics anyway) can target them better. It may be semi-public, but its also done secretively and without permission. If someone followed you out of your house and took a note of every shop window you looked at, every book you picked up, everything you did, would you be happy? There is some expectation of privacy even in public spaces. The balance has not yet been struck properly with the net yet. For now the technology is just making it easier to violate.

by spain 12y ago

justinpaulson 12y ago

So what? If they are using that information to cater ads to you, what is the problem? What are they using this information for other than targeting ads?

spain 12y ago
It doesn't matter, it's a breach of my privacy regardless of what they use it for.
- justinpaulson 12y ago
  Well I think giving out information to a company over the internet isn't really privacy. They aren't collecting any information that you aren't freely giving up. So I think the debate is really skewing what the term "privacy" means. No one is breaking into your computer and finding out what is in your private files, they are just collecting data you are openly giving out. Your public record.
  - Nursie 12y ago
    >>They aren't collecting any information that you aren't freely giving up They don't present a choice. Most non-tech people don't have a clue they're being recorded. Especially not that they're being recorded in great detail across multiple sites so that advertisers and marketers (many of whom have exceedingly questionable ethics anyway) can target them better. It may be semi-public, but its also done secretively and without permission. If someone followed you out of your house and took a note of every shop window you looked at, every book you picked up, everything you did, would you be happy? There is some expectation of privacy even in public spaces. The balance has not yet been struck properly with the net yet. For now the technology is just making it easier to violate.