e-marketing class summary 2

This article posted on Newstandard explains how marketers are using invasive means of getting consumers personal information and yet Congress has done nothing to protect the general population over the age of thirteen from the invasion of online privacy. Marketers such as AOL, Microsoft, Google as well as other advertising firms are a “broad-scale invasion of the privacy of Americans” claims Jeff Chester director of CDD. According to this article these companies use the one–to-one marketing tactic which requires knowing where the online consumer lives and what they are interested in. The companies gather this information by using “cookies” a small text file of information that certain web sites attach itself to a user’s hard drive while the consumer is online. Although most internet users are unaware of how their personal information is being used internet companies such as Google, Myspace, The Facebook, and AOL posts a privacy policy warning their consumers that their information may be tracked, collected and stored. If the consumers read the companies privacy and do not agree with the terms of use it could limit the services that are available to them. The article continues to state that there are privacy advocates fighting for “opt-in” standards meaning that there will be no data collected about the web users unless they agree in advance.
This article can help online companies and marketers to better understand how some online browsers feel about information being gathered about them for marketing purposes. Marketers can take this information and find ways to build trust from there consumers. They can do this by putting in opt-in standards like The Facebook and Myspace that make sure that the online user agrees to the terms of use and is aware that information may be gathered about them before they are able to use the website. Online companies can also state more specifically what kind of information is going to be gathered about them in the privacy contract.
More importantly this information is relevant to the consumers and online browsers because not everyone might know that information is being gathered about them and cookies are tracking where you browse on the internet. This article can also help consumers be more aware of what kind of information they are giving away when they go on the internet. Online browsers should make sure they read the terms of use and privacy policy’s thoroughly before logging onto the site or agreeing to the terms of use.

http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3916