Google launches behavioural tracking system

Google has launched a new behavioural targeting system across YouTube and partner sites in its AdSense advertising network.  Google doesn’t like the term behavioural ad targeting and prefers to call it "interest-based advertising." In the interests of clarity, it is easier to call it what it is “behavioural targeting”!

Google ‘s Susan Wojcicki writing under the title "Making ads more interesting”, stated that the new “beta” system will deliver ads associate with categories of interest such as sports, gardening, cars, pets - with your browser, based on the types of sites you visit and the pages you view. Furthermore, Google may then use those interest categories to show you more relevant text and display ads."

Google like Phorm before it, claims to anomylize your IP address and so the service is entirely legal and doesn’t breach any privacy concerns.  However, the out-turn is clear.  Google are monitoring what you surf and will deliver targeted ads based on you surfing activity.  This is not an altruistic move, but clearly aims to ensure that every moment of your surfing experience is monetised and the Google behemoth continues to suck up every ad dollar available regardless of its users’ personal privacy.

You can also opt-out of the program, but this is a cookie-based opt-out so the effect is limited by time to live of the cookie and the specific PC/laptop and browser you are using at the time. It also means that if you're someone who regularly clears your cookies for privacy reasons, you will effectively opt back in each time.

Google Chrome does offer the “incognito” surfing option, but does necessarily prevent your surfing activity remaining untracked just not retained for future sessions.

Whilst I do not believe that behavioural targeting is necessarily evil, I do think we should have a clear choice to be able to opt-in to such systems and not be corralled like dumb beasts without any genuine and permanent choice to the matter.  Increasingly, Google's mantra of "do no evil" has a caveat that may be added - unless it pays!