GNG News Guy
06-24-2008, 02:24 PM
http://i.dslr.net/urls/89/4689.gif (http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Charter-NebuAD-Plans-Suspended-95551)
Last week Charter informed news outlets (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/Charter-NebuAD-Trials-Delayed-95379?nocomment=1) that their controversial trials of NebuAD user tracking technology were delayed due to technical glitches, but insisted they'd be moving forward with the project when the kinks were worked out. This week they tell Wired News (http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/charter-freezes.html) that they're indefinitely freezing the project. Charter originally tried to convince consumers that the sale of their browsing habits for profit was an "enhanced user experience" akin to faster speeds (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/94466). The company now doesn't seem so sure:We are not moving forward with the pilots at this time. We will continue to take a thoughtful, deliberate approach with the goal to ultimately structure an advertising service that enhances the Internet experience for our customers and addresses questions and concerns they ve raised
Despite not being the first ISP to use NebuAD, Charter's decision to implement the technology caught the mainstream media's attention, leading to consumer advocate complaints and the threat of Congressional investigation into whether NebuAD violates user privacy and wiretap laws. Last week a report by consumer groups Free Press and Public Knowledge highlighted how the system uses packet forgery (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/95385) and other controversial tricks.
Last week Charter informed news outlets (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/Charter-NebuAD-Trials-Delayed-95379?nocomment=1) that their controversial trials of NebuAD user tracking technology were delayed due to technical glitches, but insisted they'd be moving forward with the project when the kinks were worked out. This week they tell Wired News (http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/charter-freezes.html) that they're indefinitely freezing the project. Charter originally tried to convince consumers that the sale of their browsing habits for profit was an "enhanced user experience" akin to faster speeds (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/94466). The company now doesn't seem so sure:We are not moving forward with the pilots at this time. We will continue to take a thoughtful, deliberate approach with the goal to ultimately structure an advertising service that enhances the Internet experience for our customers and addresses questions and concerns they ve raised
Despite not being the first ISP to use NebuAD, Charter's decision to implement the technology caught the mainstream media's attention, leading to consumer advocate complaints and the threat of Congressional investigation into whether NebuAD violates user privacy and wiretap laws. Last week a report by consumer groups Free Press and Public Knowledge highlighted how the system uses packet forgery (http://www.thegng.org/shownews/95385) and other controversial tricks.