That was really what we felt reading the “NAI Response to Public Comments” released yesterday. It accompanied the 2008 principles announcement by the self-regulatory trade online marketing trade group. The “response” is worth reading, because it really reveals the inability of the group to meaningfully address how to protect consumers online. You would think that an organization which has Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Time Warner and many others as paying members could at least clearly state what happens to our data in the online marketing process. But the real goal of the NAI is to prevent the enactment of serious state and federal privacy policies that would protect consumers. My group put out a statement yesterday discussing the new principles.
The credibility of Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Time Warner are at stake. They should be able to ensure that their own organization can honestly address the implications of online advertising. But it’s time to abandon any call for self-regulation. That has been a failure. It’s clear that a growing number of consumer and privacy groups are calling for a legislative solution, as well as a more effective FTC. Responsible online ad companies will support such regulation.
