expertSEM

I was watching Real Time with Bill Maher last week, when guest Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer started referring to Mr. Google and its ability to be “big brother” by tracking consumer behavior, and I was wondering if he knew that Google is about to get its hands on an enormous amount of non search consumer data. I am referring to Google’s $3 Billion purchase of DoubleClick last week, and its now clear ability to link up Search and display data from 2 companies that have 10 years of tracking and monitoring of what, where, how consumers are interacting with the Web.

I was working at DoubleClick in Ireland when they purchased Abacus in 1999, which they tried to link up online and offline data to do the same thing Google now wants to be able to do, which is deliver the most targeted advertising to consumers. The reality is that Google’s purchase of DoubleClick is no different then the DoubleClick purchase of Abacus, in the sense that data is going to be matched up, and eventually consumers anonymous profiles on the Web will now be identified and their browsing history known to who ever wants it.

The Privacy groups have already started their complaints as they did the with old DoubleClick/Abacus deal: http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3673291

Andrew