Associated Press: spin doctors for Claria?
By the tone of today’s article in the Sydney Morning Herald, it sounds like Associated Press (the source for the article) are being paid by Claria for some advertising space via their articles (gosh, do they do that?).
Although making mention of (previous) negative press, the article tends to use nice, happy words to describe Claria’s new software direction like “tailored”, “personalised” and “more value”. The article also finishes with a short Q&A session, as if straight from the mouth of the beast.
Some quotes…
Larry Ponemon, one of three outside privacy consultants hired by Claria, said complaints about privacy stem more from annoyance with pop-ups rather than any data collected. Non-adware companies might capture more data but get fewer complaints, he said. Online ad pioneer shuns pop-ups — SMH
What, so it’s OK to collect user’s data since people generally complain more about “annoyance with pop-ups”?
Claria still must win over the websites which once sued it. Eagle said most had been willing to listen, even if they have yet to sign deals. Advertisers who have shunned pop-ups, meanwhile, had been more willing to run traditional ads through Claria, Eagle said, though he declined to name any of the 250 advertisers participating in BehaviourLink’s pilot. Elias Plishner, head of the interactive group at Universal McCann ad agency, said many companies which previously weren’t willing to “dip their toes into behaviour marketing” might now be willing to give Claria a chance. Online ad pioneer shuns pop-ups — SMH
Any company involved in this slimy business will come out of it with muck on them. You can’t “dip your toes” into sewerage without stinking of something.
I hope the internet community aren’t just holding their noses.
Blessings, Steve
Further reading
- Related AP stooges can be Googled at will.
P.S. Thanks to Rowen for the link.
[Listening to Iona, Heaven's Bright Sun — When I Survey]
