Most consumers have made it pretty clear that they don't like the idea of having their online browsing activity tracked, stored and used to sell them additional crap -- particularly without their consent. That hasn't stopped ISPs from quietly selling your clickstream data (then denying it), and while consumer fears have temporarily shelved behavioral advertising efforts like Phorm or NebuAD, the billions in untapped revenues there mean that total Internet usage surveillance and monetization is arriving whether you like it or not.

With a new FTC boss who proclaims to be very privacy sensitive, the only question left is whether Uncle Sam is going to pass new privacy laws protecting your rights online as we enter this brave new era. For instance, laws that consumers must opt in to any targeted ad campaign, or laws that require your ISP provide easy, quick opt-out processes.

To help deter these new laws, the online advertising industry is running a huge new ad campaign this week designed to inform you, the consumer, that having everything you do online monetized isn't really creepy. The ad campaign will deliver a whopping 500 million ad impressions via most online outlets this week, and and is tied to a new website designed to "educate" consumers to the benefits of behavioral advertising.

ISPs, online content companies and advertising companies, all eager to tap into billions in new revenue without pesky consumer protections, have been pushing hard for a voluntary system of self regulation. Verizon, for one, argues that consumer privacy laws aren't necessary because public shame will keep them honest. Of course with billions in cross-industry lobbying muscle collectively wooing Uncle Sam, you should be able to pretty well guess what's going to happen to any substantive, new consumer privacy laws.

If it makes you feel any better, you never really had online privacy to begin with.