I’m really not pleased that google is buying doubleclick.
Doubleclick gathers a massive amount of personal information via ad serving on the web, and I’ve always felt uncomfortable about their ethics. I’ve been fairly confident of the ethics of google, despite their -capacity- for bad behavior, given all the information they have access to.
Since I already think doubleclick invades my privacy by accumulating information about me via the multiple sites I access that use doubleclick advertisements, I sense a tempting consolidation of data that, while very profitable, would be very disturbing.
I -don’t- want someone combining my search history with my web browsing history. Even if they’re banal. My behavior patterns are not for sale (and if they were, I’d want a cut, damn it).
My behavior patterns are not for sale (and if they were, I’d want a cut, damn it).
They could at least throw in some Air Miles.
— Steve’s wondering if the appropriate acronynm is TANJ or TANSTAAFL.
Google is my search, they know what I look for.
Google is my homepage, they know my news, location, information, and weather preferences.
Google is my calendar, they know my schedule.
Google is my RSS reader, they know my interests.
Google is my email, they know my correspondance.
They know all this, and they direct ads targetted to me already. I’m hoping that the ideals (don’t be evil) filter down to doubleclick, and not in the opposite direction.
I second this sentiment…while Google isn’t my calendar (I prefer to keep that…totally private). I see targeted ads all over their pages and other pages I frequent that sell them adspace ALREADY…I sure as heck hope they don’t start selling my info or I might have to start boycotting them and altering my browser to block their content on other sites.