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June 11, 2008

June 11, 2008

FTC Wants Civil Penalties in its Anti-Spyware Arsenal

Look out spyware perps. Today Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection Deputy Director Eileen Harrington told members of the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that stronger penalties for perpetrators of spyware might be a good idea. “Legislation authorizing the Commission to seek civil penalties in spyware cases could add a potent remedy to those otherwise available to the Commission,” said Harrington, according to an FTC statement.

The FTC's current enforcement involves "consumer redress or making the operators give up their ill-gotten gains." But that may not be enough to deter bad actors. Harrington said the commission supports legislation that would provide the FTC the ability to slap spyware disseminators with civil penalties.

Posted by Kate Kaye at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Go2 Offers Animated Mobile Banners

If the mobile Web is following in the footsteps of the Internet, then Go2 Mobile's announcement today that it's begun offering animated mobile banner units should come as no surprise.

The company first rolled out the 10- and 15-second loop animations within mobile banners as early as the beginning of the year, and will now offer the unit to all clients. Early advertisers include Best Buy and the Navy.

The Web-based animated banner has not always been well received. While it can provoke higher response rates than static ads, it also runs the risk of annoying consumers. The same principle will apply in mobile environments, only more so.

Posted by Enid Burns at 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

European Union to Intervene over B.T.'s 'Secret' Phorm Trial?

The European Union still could intervene in the use of a controversial ad-targeting technology by U.K. ISP British Telecom.

B.T. has admitted it conducted trials of controversial ad-targeting technology from Phorm without the knowledge or consent of its customers, in 2007.

In response to complaints from B.T. customers, the U.K. information commissioner's office stated in May it would not pursue B.T. over its actions, or potential breaches of European privacy laws.

However, reports this week suggest the European Union could still intervene.

Quoted in a story published by The Register on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Information Society and Media is reported to have said, "This is first of all a matter for the U.K. authorities to deal with, as it is their responsibility to apply E.U. law in the U.K. In case of incorrect application of E.U. data protection law by a national authority, the Commission could start infringement proceedings against the country concerned."

Conversely however, in a story published by Zdnet today, an information society and media spokesman by the name of Martin Selmayr is quoted as saying, "We are looking into [the BT and Phorm trials], but a national sovereign state's decision can only be challenged if it commits a serious mistake. We're looking into it, but so far there has been no indication of that."

It's therefore unclear as to where the European Commission currently stands on the matter, but it appears at this point, B.T. is unlikely to be penalized for the trials conducted in 2007.

The ISP is currently carrying out a second round of trials, with the full consent of 7,000 of its customers.

Posted by Jack Marshall at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Webby Awards: Keep it Short and …

The Webby Awards, which honors excellence on the Internet, insists winners adhere to one simple rule when making an acceptance speech: Keep it to five words.

That's an ingredient for keeping things interesting at the event, which took place Tuesday night at Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan.

Take TBWA\Media Arts Lab, which won in the online commercial for category "Don't Give Up on Vista," referring to Microsoft's operating system. "In Steve Jobs we trust," was the agency's poke at the Microsoft rival.

"My second best night ever," cracked Robert Morehouse, creative director from Vermilion. His agency picked up an award in the professional services category for Boulder, CO, based Action Marketing Group's corporate Web site.

For Trapeze, a Toronto, Canada, agency recognized for developing the Ikea Mattress Web site, had this to say, "We enjoyed sleeping with you."

MTV Networks' Nick.com was the People's Voice winner for best youth site. "Sponge Bob is our sugar daddy," said one wag.

"The New York Times" won eight awards, including one for best online newspaper. "Thank you, Elliot Spitzer," said one NYT recipient, referring to New York's governor who resigned after it was revealed he had a tryst with a prostitute.

The Huffington Post was named for best political blog. "President Obama sounds good, right," said Arianna Huffington, the site's editor-in-chief.

Obama was top of mind for another site, FactCheck.org, that checks the accuracy of candidates' statements. "No, Obama's not a Muslim," said FactCheck's designated speaker.

Was it as surprise that Flock, which bills itself as the social Web browser, was a Webby Award winner for social/networking? "No sh*t, we beat Facebook," bragged a Flock executive. Not so fast. Facebook was the People's Voice winner in the same category.

Posted by Anna Maria Virzi at 1:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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