Google's concerns

Google does not want to push too much behavioral targeting for its online ads, according to CIO Insight, invoking in particular concerns of privacy. As internet users, many would agree, and feel relieved.


Google representatives also consider that task-based information (i.e. the information provided by the user as she / he enters words to be searched by the search engine) provide the most useful information for advertisers than web browsing patterns. These patterns, Google representatives argue, are not necessarily reliable or relevant.


Google's stance is strong - and likely to be welcome by users (nice PR, as usual). However, given the dependence of Google on advertisement, such position is risky. It has probably generated much internal debate, and who knows if this righteous stance be abandoned in time?


Amazon for instance is the quintessential example of early use of behavioral pattern for marketing pursuits. Customers' privacy concerns have always been rampant, but they seem to have had little effects on the company's revenue growth.