Free Press: Robert Topolski

CenturyTel Joins Charter in Data Pimping Freeze

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:47:38 -0700

Another American ISP has put the skids on its data pimping plans.

Last week, under pressure from Congressional big wigs, Charter Communications suspended plans to deploy a Phorm-like behavioral ad targeting service from NebuAd, and over the weekend, Louisiana-based CenturyTel did much the same.

NebuAd Rebuffed by Additional ISPs Due to Privacy Issues

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:25:00 -0700

One week after Charter Communications voiced concerns about controversial behavioral targeting company NebuAd, two other Internet service providers appear to be distancing themselves from the company.

Another ISP Delays Using Behavioral Targeting System

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:19:57 -0700

A week after Charter Communications backpedaled on plans to implement NebuAds' controversial behavioral tracking and ad serving platform, another of the vendor's ISP partners has put on the brakes.

Charter Puts Ad Program on Hold Following Criticism

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:05:01 -0700

Charter Communications Inc. will hold off on plans to track customers' Internet use for a targeted-advertisement campaign after Connecticut's top legal officer said the service may be illegal.

ISP Backs Off of Behavioral Ad Plan

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:01:38 -0700

Charter Communications, one of the largest providers of cable-based broadband service in the U.S., has backed off of a plan to insert advertisements onto Web pages based on its users' Web-surfing habits after privacy advocates called the program an "attack on users."

Internet Provider Halts Plan to Track, Sell Users' Surfing Data

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:58:02 -0700

Charter Communications, the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, announced yesterday that it has backed off a plan to monitor customers' Internet transmissions.

The company had been planning to harvest the stream of data from each Internet customer for clues to their interests and then make money from advertisers who would use the information to target online pitches.

InternetforEveryone.org: Broadband Access Must Be a National Priority

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:53:42 -0700

Today, an impressive line-up of Internet visionaries, business leaders, legal scholars and public interest advocates launched InternetforEveryone.org, an initiative aimed at connecting all Americans to affordable, high-speed Internet.

Charter Communications Delays Use of NebuAd Snooping Tool

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:07:32 -0700

Internet service provider Charter Communications said today it would delay indefinitely the use of a controversial tool for tracking where its customers go on the Web.

Public Knowledge Reaction to Charter Announcement it Will Halt NebuAd Test

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:10:21 -0700

Background: Charter Communications said this afternoon it will not now move forward with a pilot project involving NebuAd, a company that provides targeted advertising for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). A technical investigation by Public Knowledge and Free Press found that consumers are having their Web browsing intercepted and Web sites are having their computer code altered by NebuAd.

NebuAd Hires Like Spyware, Acts Like Spyware

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:07:03 -0700

At least five high-ranking employees at NebuAd, a Silicon Valley start-up that snoops on Web surfers on behalf of their Internet service providers, are veterans of one of the more notorious spyware companies around, Claria Corp.