Comments on: NebuAd suspends Web-monitoring plans

Secretive start-up reportedly puts on hold controversial plans to display ads based on the monitoring of Web activity.

[Travis742]

Good to see that the politicians can bring about some positive changes rather quickly. Let's just hope they can keep this from reappearing in a few years.

[umbrae]

Now if only NebuAd (aka Gator) will go out of business so we can be done with them once and for all...

[oceanbeachike]

Last I checked, it wasn't the job of Congress to grandstand against Silicon Valley startups without actually raising any valid legal issues. We may not like NebuAd, but they had just as much right to launch as any other startup, yet Congress scared away all of their clients due to bad PR--nothing more. This sets a really bad precedent for the tech industry, and we should be ashamed that the tech community (including Cnet) has done nothing to defend it.

[Travis742]

It's Congress' job to *make* our laws. Raising an inquiry into a legally gray area is perfectly reasonable - it's their job. On the other hand, if the Judicial branch / DOJ were raising concerns, then they would need to have the valid legal issues you describe in your post because they are responsible for interpreting existing laws. Congress raising concerns about this practice and having inquiries is an indication that perhaps in the future our laws may change to prevent NebuAd from engaging in certain practices. Any reasonable company would stay away from these 'gray' areas when determining their long term strategy. Additionally, this concept that Congress is bullying NebuAd is not true - certain Congresspeople have raised concerns. Before any laws could be created to address this issue, or before any Congressional action could be taken, the entire Congress would need to be on board (subject to the percentage requirements, etc). As YOUR elected officials, Congress represents the collective desires and perspectives of all Americans. If you don't like how they do their job, vote for someone else next time.

[Dalkorian]

Did you really mean to imply that you approve of private for-profit companies wiretapping you?

NebuAd needs to be forcibly closed down forever and the company executives should be charged with federal wiretapping violations. If convicted, it's prison time.

THIS NEEDS TO STOP!!!

[umbrae]

Wiretapping is illegal. Communication Privacy laws restrict what information can be collected/snooped without consent. These activities are all things that make it wise for Congress to get involved. Especially since NebuAds main defense was the laws they are breaking "have not been challenged in courts". NebuAd, as Gator, was involved in illegal activities before, and all they did was change their name and make something worse.

If IT and the tech community really want to avoid problems then they need to really start applying some ethics to their business models, or at least respect existing laws.