Doubleclick is claiming it doesn’t really know anything about us, and that its data is controlled by its clients.
Let’s get to the truth. Doubleclick should immediately make public the entire range of data, including behavioral and profiling information, that it now holds on its own (versus what it claims is owned by clients). This should include what it collects from DART and every other product available in the U.S. and abroad. Doubleclick should also fully disclose its complete data-related plans for its new Media Exchange. Let’s find out what information about all of us is available to Doubleclick from its servers. Doubleclick should turn over this information to the FTC, the European Commission and an independent panel of academic computer experts who have no affiliation with the online ad industry. Ask the panel and the FTC/EC to conduct an intensive review of its data holdings and capabilities from a personal privacy perspective. Arrange for these experts to conduct inspections at the Doubleclick Technology Group’s facilities in “New York, Colorado, Chicago, San Francisco and Europe.” Make all of the findings public as soon as possible.
This is something Google should insist on, as part of its own public interest due diligence.
