Microsoft using personal data of 263M Hotmail users to target ads

[mandy]

Microsoft is making a global push to sell advertisements targeted at the interests and demographic of individual users on its popular Hotmail email service, msn.com news page and other Microsoft-owned sites.

Putting ads in front of people based on their Internet use, known as "behavioral targeting," is becoming more common as techniques to monitor Web use get more sophisticated. Microsoft is aiming to grab a bigger slice of the online advertising market, where it currently lags behind Google and Yahoo.

The Redmond, Wash., giant says it can take behavioral targeting to a higher level. It has begun combining personal data from the 263 million users of its free Hotmail email service -- the biggest in the world -- with information gained from monitoring their searches...

full article: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06361/749452-96.stm

[thentavius]

Putting ads in front of people based on their Internet use, known as "behavioral targeting,"

translation: broadcast spam

[BellisimaJ.]

he Redmond, Wash., giant says it can take behavioral targeting to a higher level. It has begun combining personal data from the 263 million users of its free Hotmail email service -- the biggest in the world -- with information gained from monitoring their searches...

Microsoft and Yahoo SUCK!! They both use personal info without asking (I'm sure it's spelled out in their privacy policies, but who reads those)!!!
At least Google asks if you want a personalized search based on your preferences!