How To Split An Atom

Consumer privacy advocates are asking for the creation of a “Do Not Track” list. Think of it like a Do Not Call list for the net. What they want is for advertisers to immediately disclose the means they use to track you and allow you to opt-out of tracking all together.

Online advertisers often use Cookies to track users across the web, collecting bits and pieces of information about their behavior in order to serve up more contextual advertising. For the most part, it goes completely unnoticed. Some consumers, however, feel that this has created a privacy imbalance and takes away their rights to opt-out of this sort of behavior tracking.

Opt Out?

Honestly, the information that is collected is almost always decoupled from anything that could identify you. Not only that but if you are going to be served ads, doesn’t it seem better that those ads should at least be for things that you are interested in?

No matter, if you really want to opt-out of the advertiser’s grasp, you don’t have to wait for a decision to be handed down. Already, most major ad networks have opt-out forms that you can fill out. If you do, they will no longer install the cookie into your browser. This list was culled from Debris and is partially reproduced here.

Web 2.0 Roundup

DoubleClick

Advertising.com

Core Metrics

HitBox

Enliven

You can also choose to turn off cookies entirely but buyer beware, it will make it difficult to use any site that temporarily stores your personal information in order to operate.

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