The New York Times has an article on behavioral tracking, cameras that can follow you and monitor every move and everything you touch. On the web, online retailer can track the search terms, your 'like' and even your wall posting in Facebook and Tweeter. Now with mobile devices such as a smart phone, retailer can send ads to you based on your past preferences and behavior. If you spend 1 to 2 hours a day on the Internet, you will properly lost track of how many entities are tracking you. Not to mention what they are doing with your personal information.
This seem like a serious intrusion of privacy. And in the US, consumer advocates has been promoting the notion of informed consent whereby company clearly notifies you of its policies and their intend with your personal information.
Look at it the other way round.
Imagine you step in to a hotel you checked in last year during your holiday. The hotel staff promptly address your name correctly. Your check-in process was smooth as silk because they have already assigned you a room based on your last visit. When you entered the room, you noticed that there is an extra power socket on the dressing table. It seem that the hotel remembered your special request during your last visit. In your mind you would have said: "wow, this is great service!".
Will you be angry that the hotel actually recorded your behavior of your last visit? You would properly not if it translate into excellent service the next time you visit the hotel again.
Now, let's go one step further. What if, you noticed that the hotel has placed some promotional material in your hotel room. There are promotions on camera. special tour packages to attractions in the city. Something strange was that these promotional materials matches your recent searches on the Internet before you come for the holidays. It seem that the hotel 'knew' what you are looking for during your stay here.
Will you be presently surprise or feel that your privacy has been intruded?
What do you think?
Slipstream - Consumer Tracking Outstrips Protections - NYTimes.com
3 comments:
Being a nobody, I'll take that as good service and suppose will help enrich my life. I guess one won't like it if he's some kind of public figure who alreay enjoys little privacy.
Jolene Chiam No way. I'd rather not be addressed by my name. We live in an advertisement spammed world. I can get 3 pre sales phone call from 2 insurance companies within 2 hours, on my (company) direct line. When I go on holiday, if I go in holiday, I would like to remain anonymous. No way I am going to give advertisers a chance to abuse my information and flood me with more things I have completely no interest in.
The hotel staff can just look at my credit card and address me by my name upon check-in. That's good enough service to me.
It might be a good idea if information doesn't get abuse. At the rate things are going, I certainly do not think so.
Jianxiong Benjamin Cai
good. i dont even know what i want sometimes. haha
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