In 2008 the self-regulatory Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) created the Code of Conduct that it requires its members to receive express consent from a user before collecting “Sensitive Consumer Information”. A group of researchers at Stanford’s Security Lab tested member’s practices and how protected the public is against history stealing.
Browsers that we use to search on the internet allow the use of “cookies” which companies and the government places on your computer to track your browsing history, among other things. This piece of tracking content is used primarily by ads and beacons.
When “opting out” with a company online, that company can leave an “opt-out” cookie so that they don’t continue to track your usage. What happens when you clear your cookie cache on your browser? Will that company be allowed to track you again? This Opting-out methodology is counter-intuitive and not likely to be understood by most internet users.
Knowing whether or not you are being tracked is a little more complicated than simply guessing based on the presence of a cookie.
This idea of cookies for tracking goes to show that despite privacy laws, organizations are still circumventing the law and compromising your privacy. People might think just because there is a law, such as NAI’s Code of Conduct, tracking your browsing history doesn’t happen. Our own government, including foreign governments, may possibly be circumventing the very same law along with the excuse of government contractors doing the illegal dirty work.
This is just an example to show the need for TSCM services. We are trustworthy experts at knowing how to protect your privacy. For a free initial consultation to determine if your privacy is possibly being compromised, please contact us.
