Comments on slight paranoia: Safecount: Please opt us out of TACO

Tom: Years ago the phone company (Bell Tel) tried...

2009-10-30T07:44:44.033-04:00

Tom:
Years ago the phone company (Bell Tel) tried to charge people to NOT list their number in the phone book. Isn't this the same thing? Like paying to NOT get The New York Times delivered, or to NOT get Religeous stations on cable? The entire industries "opt out" scheme is web page spam and nothing else. I will not knowingly buy from companies that use your service.
How about a "CONTACT TOM" button on your website?

Hey All - this is Tom Kelly, the COO at Safecount....

2009-07-13T11:59:29.073-04:00

Hey All - this is Tom Kelly, the COO at Safecount. I actually think the feedback here has been fair. Our only request is that we're labeled differently than a behavioral targeting group on the TACO page. I did mention removing us from that page, but only insofar as to disassociate us from the BT world (not that we think poorly of them - just that we're different). And it seems that Chris has agree to that.

Providing the opt out function you do is perfectly cool - heck we do it ourselves.

Keep up the critical thought.

- tom

Interesting that TACO is finally capturing the att...

2009-07-13T09:30:47.045-04:00

Interesting that TACO is finally capturing the attention of these guys..

From their site: "The only information stored in S...

2009-07-10T15:52:30.453-04:00

From their site: "The only information stored in Safecount's cookie tells us whether or not a particular ad was displayed on your computer, the time and date that ad was delivered..."

Well, since they are ONLY storing data, that has been proven time and again to be able to identify people and their usage habits across the internet without their consent, I don;t see what the big deal is.

I think that your logic is sound. In my mind, the...

2009-07-10T14:49:02.359-04:00

I think that your logic is sound. In my mind, the crux of it lies here: "99% of consumers have never heard of the company, and so wouldn't even know to visit their opt-out page in the first place."

I shouldn't have to scour the web looking for people who want to use my personal data, and take the time to determine whether the purpose is or is not nefarious. It's MY data.

Thanks for TACO, by the way. I heard you mention it at CFP this year. I'm guessing I overlooked previous references to it in the Berkman Buzz.

I couldn't find the page to view the information t...

2009-07-10T13:08:19.141-04:00

I couldn't find the page to view the information they had on me. I didn't take more than 30 seconds to try to find it either, but hey.

If your plugin allows for selective on/offs, then let it be up to them to educate their 'customers' to uncheck the box for their sire.

otherwise, he has the right to capture data, you have the right to stop him from capturing the data.

I get that he thinks he's not the bad guy. Maybe he's not the bad guy, but you do what you do.. keep it up.

I second what djcapelis said: update your descript...

2009-07-10T10:22:40.521-04:00

I second what djcapelis said: update your description of TACO and leave this on the list. If anyone wants to opt back in, we'll just have to find a way to do so.

Also, note that when I attempted to browse to the site at the hostname Mr. Kelly cited in his second message to you, I found that he misspelled it. That doesn't lend credibility to his cause. He didn't even bother to mention which page on his site would let people view data his company has stored about us.

Thoughts: Fuck em. If they don't like it, they ca...

2009-07-10T10:02:18.678-04:00

Thoughts: Fuck em.

If they don't like it, they can eliminate the opt-in cookie.

Thoughts: I concur, change the language, keep them...

2009-07-10T01:50:58.564-04:00

Thoughts: I concur, change the language, keep them on the list.

If you want to get really fancy and go on a coding bender you could create a separate category you could put "research firms" in for future when they look kinda research-y and not advert-y and provide a checkbox somewhere... but only if you get really bored.