Jeff Chester

FCC Says News Outlets Could Make Money from Online Ad Tracking

Stevie Converse — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:41:07 -0400

Full article: The Hill
Sara Jerome
An FCC report encourages policymakers to see the benefits in behavioral advertising to help local journalism enterprises, despite a raging debate in Washington on how to regulate online tracking to protect the personal data of consumers. Privacy experts questioned the plausibility of such methods in terms of consumer privacy and a new kind of digital divide -- one that will create a gap in who has access to quality content and who are not worth targeting.

Chester Asks that Consumer Privacy Be Addressed in Any Comcast/NBCU Review

Lindsy Embree — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:30:49 -0500

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
While a combined NBCU and Comcast are expected to offer up some conditions to regulators to make the deal more palatable, Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center For Digital Democracy, isn't waiting around to see what they will be. Chester wants to make sure consumer privacy issues are addressed in any regulatory review of a deal.

Media Minutes (2009-07-03)

Candace Clement — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:52:34 -0400

Companies Pledge More Openness about Web Tracking, but Consumer Groups Aren't Convinced

Stevie Converse — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:00:50 -0400

Full article: Associated Press
Deborah Yao
Companies that track consumer behavior online for advertising purposes are vowing to make their practices more transparent and to give people a way to decline being shadowed. But one consumer group said the changes don't go far enough, and that extensive profiles of people still will be collected without their complete consent.

Online Consumers Require Real Privacy Safeguards, Not the Digital Fox in Charge of the Data Hen House

Stevie Converse — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:46:49 -0400

Full article: Center for Digital Democracy
Jeff Chester
The self-regulatory proposals released by five marketing industry trade and lobby groups are way too little and far too late. This move by the online ad industry is an attempt, of course, to quell the growing bi-partisan calls in Congress to enact meaningful digital privacy and consumer protection laws.

Ad Industry Backs Form of Opt-In for Behavioral Ads

Stevie Converse — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:37:06 -0400

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
Major advertisers and their agencies have new self-regulatory guidelines for behavioral advertising. They agreed to give Web surfers more control over their data that is being mined, shared and sold. They also say that control should apply to ads serviced by the Googles and Yahoos! of the world, as well as Internet Service Providers.

Federal Trade Commission Looking into Range of Fixes for News Industry

Stevie Converse — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:42:58 -0400

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
The Federal Trade Commission is concerned about the future of news on TV and radio as well as newspapers. The FTC has launched a new series titled, "Can News Media Survive the Internet Age? Competition, Consumer Protection and the First Amendment," and will consider a range of fixes, including possible nonprofit models.

Agency Skeptical of Internet Privacy Policies

Stevie Converse — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:22:45 -0500

Full article: New York Times
Saul Hansell
The Federal Trade Commission had some sharp words for Internet companies, saying that they are not explaining to their users clearly enough what information they collect about them and how they use it for advertising.

Privacy Groups Ask Obama for Stronger FTC

Stevie Converse — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:42:16 -0500

Full article: CNet
Stephanie Condon
About a dozen leading privacy and consumer groups met with members of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team to discuss the Federal Trade Commission's role in protecting consumer privacy.

Google's Growth Worries Privacy Advocates

Stevie Converse — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:50:17 -0500

Full article: eSchool News
Perhaps the biggest threat to Google's increasing dominance of Internet search and advertising is the rising fear that the company's broadening reach is giving it unchecked power -- especially when it comes to users' privacy.