Online privacy complaint targets Microsoft, other advertisers

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Re: the "public infrastructure"

Actually, the Internet is not a public network, at least not since the it was opened to the public in 1993. It certainly has some public components, but the Internet itself is a conglomeration of private networks all linked together with high-speed lines. We all pay connect fees to our ISPs, who use those funds (along with peering arrangements with each other and various public and private agencies) to operate their networks.

This is a really critical point, as it is a fundamental right of a private company to innovate its own products and services and evolve as the market allows.

The bottom line on privacy is that if you pay for an MSN subscription, run Windows XP on your workstation, use MS Passport, or use Google as your search engine, you are patronizing those businesses and in effect paying them for the privilege of creating these ad profiles and thinking for you. You trade your privacy in the exchange.

Most computer users are not savvy enough to realize that this is part of the deal. Most don't really care. What grinds my gears is that the US government knows this and sits idly by in the name of capitalism and free market economics while customers are being lured into a false sense of security that these IT companies are looking out for their overall well-being.

Clearly, Microsoft is the latest in a long list of IT companies whose high-flying PR does not match the view on the ground. At the moment, they are the most visible because of their size and their exposure. As others have pointed out, I am not sure that another company would have behaved differently.

MS should be broken into an operating systems company and an applications company. Had this been accomplished when Judge Jackson rendered his original opinion way back when, MS would not be nearly the threat to consumers, in terms of privacy or other abuses of monopoly.

All that said, each of us has the ability to vote with our wallets. If you buy these products and use their free services, you are in effect subsidizing your own abuse. There are alternatives.

Posted by: Bitboy   Posted on: 11/02/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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