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seagreen
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Re: Centurytel and NebuAd

said by nunya See Profile :

I'd like to know how NebuAd works
Read the article linked in my post directly above yours. In it is a very good description about how NebuAd works.
I don't think there is much the end user can directly do to thwart the tracking.

What users of other ISP's have done is get their congressmen/women involved and looking into the wiretap & privacy laws relative to this technology. Charter, one of the other ISPs who had planned to make use of this technology has seemingly backed off on it now: »After Charter's Decision To Drop NebuAD, Will Other ISPs Follow?
permalink · 2008-06-28 00:18:50 · Print · Reply to this

funchords
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1 edit

Centurytel drops NebuAd

CenturyTel -···n-22.pdf
Google Cache of Privacy Policy
CenturyTel -···n-27.pdf
Privacy Policy fetched Today
I'm happy to report that CenturyTel has dropped NebuAd. In a private email to me from a CenturyTel subscriber, the company told him today that it is no longer using NebuAd or any other Behavioral Targeting service.

The subscriber also observed, and I have confirmed, that the paragraph mentioning the service and the links to Opt Out of it, have been removed from CenturyTel's Privacy Policy page. (pdf files attached for historical reference)

--Robb
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
HTTP is the new Bandwidth Hog...
permalink · 2008-06-28 01:10:04 · Print · Reply to this
BigVe

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1 edit

Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

said by funchords See Profile :

I'm happy to report that CenturyTel has dropped NebuAd. In a private email to me from a CenturyTel subscriber, the company told him today that it is no longer using NebuAd or any other Behavioral Targeting service.

The subscriber also observed, and I have confirmed, that the paragraph mentioning the service and the links to Opt Out of it, have been removed from CenturyTel's Privacy Policy page. (pdf files attached for historical reference)

--Robb
I am a Centurytel subsciber with 2 accounts and i have not seen ANY email from them even slightly mentioning any changes either way so i still assume that they use NebuAd or something similar.The change in Privacy Policy don't mean nothing.Besides, if you read a little closer you will find that Nothing is really changed what it goes for 'spying' on your browsing habits.Spying is 1 thing but using a place snooping around that is worse than a Trojan.To bad i don't have any other choice for ISP or i would drop them really fast.
permalink · 2008-06-28 19:12:38 · Print · Reply to this

GeekJedi
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Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

said by BigVe See Profile :

I am a Centurytel subsciber with 2 accounts and i have not seen ANY email from them even slightly mentioning any changes either way so i still assume that they use NebuAd or something similar.The change in Privacy Policy don't mean nothing.Besides, if you read a little closer you will find that Nothing is really changed what it goes for 'spying' on your browsing habits.Spying is 1 thing but using a place snooping around that is worse than a Trojan.To bad i don't have any other choice for ISP or i would drop them really fast.
Don't assume...it's dangerous.

Anyway, they won't be sending you anything, because you didn't ask them to. The proof is there - NebuAd is history.
--
The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!!
permalink · 2008-06-29 01:28:22 · Print · Reply to this

seagreen
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1 edit

Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

said by GeekJedi See Profile :

The proof is there - NebuAd is history.
I think that that conclusion is premature, at best. They apparently are waiting to see which way the congressional winds are blowing before proceeding. No where do they state that they figured out it was a really bad idea to be spying on their customers.
permalink · 2008-06-29 10:39:35 · Print · Reply to this

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2 edits

Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

Sounds to me like they've given it up. Seeing as they're telling anyone who asks as much, and changing their privacy policy is pretty concrete proof.

If they were simply waiting on congress, why go through the trouble of changing anything? It would be much better from a PR standpoint to say nothing and continue on as usual. That way, if they decide to actually continue, they wouldn't have to tip their hand, since the wording would already be there. It seems to me that they realize that it isn't going anywhere, and instead of saying "oops" they're using this as an out - "delaying" it forever, essentially.

It makes little sense to go as far as to openly say they aren't going to do it *and* change their privacy policy to reflect that, only to flip-flop down the road.
--
The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!!
permalink · 2008-06-29 13:00:20 · Print · Reply to this

seagreen
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Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

I guess I'm just skeptical because, (to me), any company who has once shown their willingness to engage in nefarious behavior will likely do so again.
permalink · 2008-06-29 16:23:18 · Reply to this

funchords
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Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

Your skepticism is healthy -- keep it.

That said, corporations don't admit that they were wrong. Something being suspended indefinitely is probably the best we're ever going to get from Charter, CenturyTel, or Embarq.
permalink · 2008-06-29 16:43:24 · Reply to this

GeekJedi
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1 edit		 I understand, but to quote Hanlon:

"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."

I don't think the people involved thought for a minute that what they were doing was nefarious. They simply were offered a way to potentially generate a new revenue stream. For companies, it's easy to see things the way you want to see them when there is money involved.

Believe me, I'm not defending them, but I do understand how big business works. Many times, the "evil plot" was simply hatched by some middle manager who doesn't know any better.
--
The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!!
permalink · 2008-06-29 18:36:33 · Print · Reply to this

funchords
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Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

That's fine, but -- especially in the TelCo world -- there's stupidity and there's criminal wiretapping.

I've checked 18 USC 2511 and I can't find the Stupidity defense.
permalink · 2008-06-29 22:43:06 · Print · Reply to this

GeekJedi
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Re: Centurytel drops NebuAd

Yeah, but you really can't compare the two...
permalink · 2008-06-29 22:57:26 · Reply to this

seagreen
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3 edits		 Well, I got the email today from CTel:

said by email :
CenturyTel is not currently using online behavioral advertising tools in any of its markets, and we are delaying our plans to move forward with the deployment of online behavioral advertising services - either through NebuAd or any other vendor - at this time. CenturyTel is delaying its implementation plans so that Congress can spend additional time addressing the privacy issues and policies associated with online behavioral advertising.
This is, in no way, particularly reassuring. They clearly are not renouncing the concept. I believe the company suits continue to look at this potential revenue stream with great longing and that our privacy will once again be for sale once they figure out a way to implement this scheme in a way that won't come back to bite them legally.

edit to add: It's also clear that NebuAd isn't giving up and will be looking at ways to "educate" our lawmakers and privacy advocates. NebuAD Responds To ISP Backlash. In other words, they'll throw some money around where they think it will do them some good.

What is particularly telling is that they are not simply going to an "opt-in" setup which would likely fail spectacularly. It continues to be an "opt-out" scenario which clearly they assume the average person connecting to the Internet will not do.
permalink · 2008-07-02 11:39:36 · Print · Reply to this

funchords
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 Here is the text that they appear to be sending to people who write in to ask about NebuAd:

CenturyTel is not currently using online behavioral advertising tools in any of its markets, and we are delaying our plans to move forward with the deployment of online behavioral advertising services - either through NebuAd or any other vendor - at this time. CenturyTel is delaying its implementation plans so that Congress can spend additional time addressing the privacy issues and policies associated with online behavioral advertising.

CenturyTel highly values our customers' personal privacy, and we are committed to protecting our customers' personal information. More detailed information about CenturyTel's data collection and use practices can be obtained by reviewing our Privacy Policy at »www.centurytel.com/Pages/PrivacyPolicy/.
--
Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- Hillsboro, Oregon
HTTP is the new Bandwidth Hog...
permalink · 2008-06-29 00:36:01 · Print · Reply to this
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