IP: EFF: Urges DoubleClick to Adopt Opt-In Privacy Protections

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release
>
> For Immediate Release: June 6, 2001
>
> Contact:
>
> Deborah Pierce, EFF Staff Attorney, dsp () eff org,
>  +1 415 436 9333 x106
>
> Ira Rothken, Attorney, Rothken Law Firm, ira () techfirm com,
>  +1 415 924 4250
>
>
> Judge Rules Alleged DoubleClick Privacy Violations
>  Sufficient to Go to Trial
>
> Electronic Frontier Foundation Urges DoubleClick to Adopt
>  Opt-In Privacy Protections
>
> San Rafael, CA - Judge Lynn O'Malley Taylor ruled today
> that a lawsuit seeking to prevent DoubleClick from
> invading individuals' privacy moved one step closer to
> trial. The class-action claims in the privacy lawsuit
> against DoubleClick focus on DoubleClick's practice of
> tracking and profiling people without their consent as
> they browse the Web. She indicated that, unless the
> parties reach a settlement, the trial will be held in
> January 2002, despite DoubleClick's attempt to derail the
> lawsuit.
>
> "DoubleClick is invading people's privacy by collecting
> personal information without first asking permission,"
> said EFF staff attorney Deborah Pierce. "We are glad
> that Judge Taylor recognizes that DoubleClick's
> practices may be in violation of privacy rights
> guaranteed by the California state constitution."
>
> "California's Constitution protects the general public
> against the massive, unauthorized accumulation of
> sensitive information," said Ira Rothken, lead
> plaintiff's attorney in the case. "DoubleClick's
> behavior is outrageous. DoubleClick's business model is
> flawed. And we are going to obtain a remedy from the
> court to stop them."
>
> DoubleClick, an online advertising company, places banner
> ads and other website advertisements on behalf of its
> clients. The dispute concerns DoubleClick's use of cookies
> and web bugs to track the web browsing behavior of
> individuals.  Individuals are often unaware these
> technologies exist, what they can do to avoid a cookie or
> a web bug, or how they can prevent companies like
> DoubleClick from placing cookies on their computer hard
> drives.
>
> The lawsuit alleges that by using cookies DoubleClick can
> store personally identifying information, resulting in a
> profile of individuals based on their surfing history.
> Online profiling and aggregation of data from different
> sources allows others to form opinions, to market items,
> and to discriminate based on a profile that may or may
> not be accurate. Unwanted disclosure of information may
> have harmful consequences, ranging from simple
> embarrassment to serious problems such as harassment,
> violence, insurance cancellation, loss of job or home,
> and relationship issues with family and friends.
>
> The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), along with the
> Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) and the Electronic
> Privacy Information Center (EPIC), have been acting as
> advisors in the case, formally called Judnick v.
> DoubleClick.
>
>
> For more information about online privacy, see the EFF
> website:
> http://www.eff.org/
>
> For more information about the Rothken Law Firm, see
> the Rothken website:
> http://www.techfirm.com/
>
> For additional background and information on online
> privacy and data-sharing, see:
>
> http://www.privacyrights.org/ (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse)
> http://epic.org/(Electronic Privacy Information Center)
> http://www.privacypledge.org/ (Privacy Pledge)
>
> About EFF:
>
> The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading civil
> liberties organization working to protect rights in the
> digital world.  Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages
> and challenges industry and government to support free
> expression, privacy, and openness in the information
> society. EFF is a member-supported organization and
> maintains one of the most linked-to websites in the world:
> http://www.eff.org
>
>                            - end -



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