Personally, I'd rather see targeted ads about things I'm interested in than a bunch of random noise that clutters up most pages. If these politicians realized that most people are using DHCP and can't really be tracked unless they accept a cookie at their own discretion, or perform a LOGIN to identify themselves, they wouldn't jump up and down so much. OK, I know I'm about to drift slightly off topic but this topic of personalized tracking hits a sore spot.
Here's where I have issues...
Maybe they should be more concerned about the mobile phone tracking technology, think about the ads on "Minority Report".
Remember the personalized advertising as Tom Cruise walked past the signs?
It's all possible today thanks to your cell phone!
Whether the sign talks to the person walking by or your proximity to the location results in your cell phone getting a text message, it's the same thing. Just wait until you get a discount coffee coupon as you get near StarBucks or a discount for a Big Mac as you stroll close to McD's, that's going to be intrusive. Not only that, just in case you don't know how to get to the place, they'll include a little map from your current location.
If you don't think it's coming, the technology is basically here and people are already testing it.
Your phone number typically isn't a cookie you can easily discard either like the online tracking issue.
Speaking of tracking things, anyone use those FastTrak passes for toll roads?
Yup, with a combination of cell phones and electronic toll payment big brother is watching us and know exactly where we are at all times, just don't show targeted advertising and let the masses know they're being tracked.
Maybe Google should just donate to the New York assemblyman's re-election campaign and make this all go away.
[edited by: incrediBILL at 6:30 pm (utc) on Mar. 20, 2008]
