NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] New 'Adware' Apps Bug Facebook, Google
New 'Adware' Apps Bug Facebook, Google
http://j.mp/vonlpz (WSJ)
"A new generation of controversial advertising software is wreaking
havoc on the ad businesses of Web giants including Facebook Inc.,
Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc., inserting a layer of ads on websites or
covering up other paying ads."
- - -
Since users -- at least in theory -- are giving permission for this software
to be installed, the situation is very different from DPI ad injection, where
a third party tampers with connections without explicit permission from
users.
The obvious issue in the case of this ad software is disclosure -- do
users *really* understand what they're letting themselves in for by
installing it. Another issue is whether such software masks its
operations in ways that make it difficult for users to determine if
ads are coming from that software or the underlying Web site (e.g.
Facebook or Google) -- causing those users to complain to the wrong
entity.
Beyond these factors, there don't seem to be many obvious legal means
for attacking this -- even covering ads would seem legal if the user
chooses to do it (note however that I'm on record as being generally
opposed to broad use of ad blocking software on a number of grounds).
There are ways that Google, Facebook, et al. could fight back against
this new breed of ad insertion software, but they won't be simple.
Essentially, they'd have to "wall off" the channel between their
servers and the browser window/tabs, and prevent other software/sites
from injecting extraneous display elements. This would potentially
have broader implications, of course.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com