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Creepiest Ads on the Web

by Chad Mumm on February 5, 2009 at 12:01 AM



Gmail: Have you noticed those ads on the sidebar of your Gmail getting smarter? That's because they are. Google scans your mail and can deliver targeted advertising for specific messages. Did you e-mail a friend about watching the Presidential Inauguration? Oh look, there's an ad to buy a DVD of the event and another for some commemorative plates. The ability to deliver targeted advertising for specific situations is the holy grail for marketers; there is a reason that Google's stock price is outrageously high. The Big Brother stuff can get creepy though and many critics cite the company's 'reading' of every message as an egregious breach of privacy. Google promises to play nice with your information, but it's enough to send the conspiracy-minded running for the aluminum foil hats.

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