My final article concerning legal and ethical issues on the internet and in the world of internet marketing has to do with spam. Everyone has experienced some sort of spam I am sure, those unwanted emails that pop up in droves in your inbox daily. An article I found on New York Times.com discusses spam and the efforts the Direct Marketing Association is making towards preventing it. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05EFD81639F931A1575BC0A9659C8B63&scp=2&sq=illegal+internet+marketing&st=nyt
The article is entitled, TECHNOLOGY; Marketers Say They Intend To Join Effort To Fight Spam, focuses on the efforts being made by the Direct Marketing Association to get the attention of federal law makers and put an end to annoying and evasive spam.
"The campaign, to be called Operation Slam Spam, is seeking a $65,000 ''participation fee'' from the association's members, according to the letter, which was signed by its chief executive, H. Robert Wientzen.
The move is an attempt to blunt efforts to prod Congress and the states into approving significantly tougher anti-spam laws. "
Spam is one of the biggest problems internet users face. Many people choose to install spam blockers on their email accounts to prevent receiving unwanted bulk email. The email at Sacred Heart University has a spam blocker. However, I feel as though spam is wrong and we should not even have to go through the measures of obtaining a spam blocker on our email accounts. Hopefully some federal laws are enacted in order to effectively prevent spam from taking up our inboxes!
Jess
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Legal and Ethical Issues Concerning Internet Marketing Part III
My third post for legal and ethical issues involves something many college -- and now high school -- students take part in. Facebook.com
An article on New York Times entitled "How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook?" discusses how facebook.com members can have a great deal of trouble deleting his or her membership from the website. A former facebook member, Nipon Das, claims it took him to threaten legal action towards facebook.com, in order for them to completely delete his records from the site.
The article states, "But even after that, a reporter was able to find Mr. Das’s empty profile on Facebook and successfully sent him an e-mail message through the network."http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html?scp=8&sq=legal+internet+marketing&st=nyt
Facebook is supposed to be an online community and networking website with seemingly optional membership. Members are highly under the impression that they choose to delete their membership, they will be facebook free forever. However, this is not the case.
"Facebook’s quiet archiving of information from deactivated accounts has increased concerns about the network’s potential abuse of private data, especially in the wake of its fumbled Beacon advertising feature. That application, which tracks and publishes the items bought by Facebook members on outside Web sites, was introduced in November without a transparent, one-step opt-out feature. After a public backlash, including more than 50,000 Facebook users’ signatures on a MoveOn.org protest petition, Facebook executives apologized and allowed such an opt-out option on the program."
Facebook has undoubtedly tainted the trust amongst users with its Beacon advertising feature. The premise of facebook can create a certain degree of vulnerability amongst users, and the last thing members want is to feel more exposed that they already do on facebook. I feel as though facebook.com should take great measures to assure members once they do not wish to be in the facebook community, they should be deleted completely. Withholding information about former methods is unethical, and downright creepy.
An article on New York Times entitled "How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook?" discusses how facebook.com members can have a great deal of trouble deleting his or her membership from the website. A former facebook member, Nipon Das, claims it took him to threaten legal action towards facebook.com, in order for them to completely delete his records from the site.
The article states, "But even after that, a reporter was able to find Mr. Das’s empty profile on Facebook and successfully sent him an e-mail message through the network."http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html?scp=8&sq=legal+internet+marketing&st=nyt
Facebook is supposed to be an online community and networking website with seemingly optional membership. Members are highly under the impression that they choose to delete their membership, they will be facebook free forever. However, this is not the case.
"Facebook’s quiet archiving of information from deactivated accounts has increased concerns about the network’s potential abuse of private data, especially in the wake of its fumbled Beacon advertising feature. That application, which tracks and publishes the items bought by Facebook members on outside Web sites, was introduced in November without a transparent, one-step opt-out feature. After a public backlash, including more than 50,000 Facebook users’ signatures on a MoveOn.org protest petition, Facebook executives apologized and allowed such an opt-out option on the program."
Facebook has undoubtedly tainted the trust amongst users with its Beacon advertising feature. The premise of facebook can create a certain degree of vulnerability amongst users, and the last thing members want is to feel more exposed that they already do on facebook. I feel as though facebook.com should take great measures to assure members once they do not wish to be in the facebook community, they should be deleted completely. Withholding information about former methods is unethical, and downright creepy.
Legal and Ethical Issues Concerning Internet Marketing Part II
This is my second post concerning legal and ethical issues in internet marketing (I have to do four). I came across an article in the New York Times that discussed the marketing of alcohol over the internet. The article sheds light on the fact that many alcohol companies are abandoning traditional methods of advertising and primarily marketing their products on the world wide web.
While this might look to increase revenue for companies such as Anheuser Busch, there is a serious ethical problem with marketing alcohol via the internet. The article mentions the openness of the internet to young children.
“When you have a liquor ad on TV, there’s a chance a parent can come in and turn off the set before the youngster sees the commercial,” Mr. Hacker said. “Online, with kids going from one screen to another at blazing fast speed, they can hide the liquor screen they’re watching behind five others.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/business/media/22adcol.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=legal+internet+marketing&st=nyt&oref=slogin
There is already a problem with underage drinking in the United States and the potential to increase the desire for youngsters to drink is an ethical issue in the world of internet marketing.
While alcohol beverage advertisers often include age verifications to view their webpages, Mr. Hacker makes another valid point in stating, "I put totally fictitious birth days into the age-verification processes.” I would have to agree that this is not a valid form in preventing underage drinkers from obtaining information on their webpages. It is incredibly easy to put in a fake birthdate and hide a young face behind the computer screen.
Alcohol beverage and tobacco adverstisements represent a blurred line of ethics in the internet marketing world. While both should be allowed to freely advertise on the world wide web, it is very important that the correct measures are taken in order to ethically prevent young children from being directed towards ads promoting activities in which they should not yet be exposed to.
While this might look to increase revenue for companies such as Anheuser Busch, there is a serious ethical problem with marketing alcohol via the internet. The article mentions the openness of the internet to young children.
“When you have a liquor ad on TV, there’s a chance a parent can come in and turn off the set before the youngster sees the commercial,” Mr. Hacker said. “Online, with kids going from one screen to another at blazing fast speed, they can hide the liquor screen they’re watching behind five others.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/business/media/22adcol.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=legal+internet+marketing&st=nyt&oref=slogin
There is already a problem with underage drinking in the United States and the potential to increase the desire for youngsters to drink is an ethical issue in the world of internet marketing.
While alcohol beverage advertisers often include age verifications to view their webpages, Mr. Hacker makes another valid point in stating, "I put totally fictitious birth days into the age-verification processes.” I would have to agree that this is not a valid form in preventing underage drinkers from obtaining information on their webpages. It is incredibly easy to put in a fake birthdate and hide a young face behind the computer screen.
Alcohol beverage and tobacco adverstisements represent a blurred line of ethics in the internet marketing world. While both should be allowed to freely advertise on the world wide web, it is very important that the correct measures are taken in order to ethically prevent young children from being directed towards ads promoting activities in which they should not yet be exposed to.
Obama gaining in NC
Woo! 2 days until the North Carolina and Indiana primaries. Hopefully, these elections will bring an end to the still aparant democratic uncertaintly. An article on CNN.com's election center 2008, Polls: Race tightening in North Carolina, shows Obama beating Clinton in the polls, 50 to 42, respectively.
These primaries could make or break the candidacy for either of the Democratic hopefuls with a promising 187 delegates, amongst the last of the "big Tuesdays".
I recently spoke to a friend of mine who goes to the University of North Carolina. Upon learning of my Obama support she IMed me on AIM with "Party like BARACK!!" She then explained to me how much she LOVES Obama, which left me confused. This is because my friend, someone I have actually known all my life, has never shown support for a Democrat before. She even informed me that Obama went to her school (jealous -- my school got stuck with McCain :( ) and played basketball with the UNC basketball team! If I ever had any doubt on my Obama love (which I haven't) this would solidify my support for him. This is what we need! Someone who is willing to unpretentiously relate to those outside of the stuffy world of politics. Us regular Americans.
VQUZESHUF babyy,
Jess
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Pennsylvania Primaries Provide No Clear Answer
What a long wait until the Pennsylvania primaries we had! Jeez.. all that waiting and still no projected Democratic nominee.. tear...
Hillary Clinton won 55% of the state, with Barack Obama trailing at 45%. So now, Obama has 1,727 delegates (including Projected Super Del's) and Clinton is trailing very closely with 1,589. This is crazy! The next primaries take place next week, May 6th, in both Indiana and North Carolina. Not fair! Republicans have known for soooo long who their nominee is, leaving us Democrats to bite our nails in hope that our favorite person will pull ahead, ditching the other guy (or woman) delegates short of a victory.
Current projected delegate count..Hillary Clinton won 55% of the state, with Barack Obama trailing at 45%. So now, Obama has 1,727 delegates (including Projected Super Del's) and Clinton is trailing very closely with 1,589. This is crazy! The next primaries take place next week, May 6th, in both Indiana and North Carolina. Not fair! Republicans have known for soooo long who their nominee is, leaving us Democrats to bite our nails in hope that our favorite person will pull ahead, ditching the other guy (or woman) delegates short of a victory.
This is quite a monumental election we are seeing, and it is only the primaries. Not only do we have the possiblity of a black man or a woman running on the Democratic ticket, but the controversy revolving around the Florida and Michigan delegates. So far, these delegates are not going to count. However, who knows what will happen at the Democratic National Convention in September. It could cause chaos! With all this controversy in the primaries, it should be an interesting presidential race :)Ciao, VQUZESHUF
Jess
Legal and Ethical Issues Concerning Internet Marketing
Hello All,
I know that this does not concern the upcoming 08 election, but as mentioned previously this blog is also a project for my Internet Marketing class and I am getting graded on it so.. I have to post 4 articles related to legal and ethical issues concerning internet marketing and I found an article on NYTimes.com related to that topic published on October 13, 2004 by Tom Zeller.
The article is entitled, F.T.C. Files First Lawsuit Against Spyware -- which, obviously, has to do the the FTC handling spyware over the internet. Spyware is not only an annoyance to the average internet user, many feel as though spyware is a violation of privacy.
This article is dated, however, it provides insight into when the FTC first began to take notice of the spyware problem plagueing internet users everywhere. The FTC filed a lawsuit in New Hampshire against the CEO of Smartbot.com, citing that this company, in using spyware, was violating federal law. The FTC asserted that the use of spyware, tracking the websites an internet user visits and, consequently, bombarding them with pop up advertisements, is an "unfair and deceptive use of commerce."
he Federal Trade Commission formally announced yesterday its first assault against spyware - bits of computer code that surreptitiously install themselves on the computers of Internet users to track their activities, push them to Web sites, barrage them with advertisements, and otherwise wreak havoc with their machines.
The commission filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New Hampshire last week against Sanford Wallace, the owner of Seismic Entertainment Productions and Smartbot.net, contending that Mr. Wallace and his companies had violated federal law, which prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce."
The director of the commision of consumer protection, Lydia Parnes, claimed that this would not be the last of many lawsuits concerning companies who installed spyware to oblivious internet users.
Spyware is a problem amongst internet users even in 2008, four years after this article was published. It is hard to control because many companies choose to take advantages of the weaknesses in Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the most widely used browser, and install spyware. The legality and ethics of Spyware is still widely debated to this day.
I know that this does not concern the upcoming 08 election, but as mentioned previously this blog is also a project for my Internet Marketing class and I am getting graded on it so.. I have to post 4 articles related to legal and ethical issues concerning internet marketing and I found an article on NYTimes.com related to that topic published on October 13, 2004 by Tom Zeller.
The article is entitled, F.T.C. Files First Lawsuit Against Spyware -- which, obviously, has to do the the FTC handling spyware over the internet. Spyware is not only an annoyance to the average internet user, many feel as though spyware is a violation of privacy.
This article is dated, however, it provides insight into when the FTC first began to take notice of the spyware problem plagueing internet users everywhere. The FTC filed a lawsuit in New Hampshire against the CEO of Smartbot.com, citing that this company, in using spyware, was violating federal law. The FTC asserted that the use of spyware, tracking the websites an internet user visits and, consequently, bombarding them with pop up advertisements, is an "unfair and deceptive use of commerce."
he Federal Trade Commission formally announced yesterday its first assault against spyware - bits of computer code that surreptitiously install themselves on the computers of Internet users to track their activities, push them to Web sites, barrage them with advertisements, and otherwise wreak havoc with their machines.
The commission filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New Hampshire last week against Sanford Wallace, the owner of Seismic Entertainment Productions and Smartbot.net, contending that Mr. Wallace and his companies had violated federal law, which prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce."
The director of the commision of consumer protection, Lydia Parnes, claimed that this would not be the last of many lawsuits concerning companies who installed spyware to oblivious internet users.
Spyware is a problem amongst internet users even in 2008, four years after this article was published. It is hard to control because many companies choose to take advantages of the weaknesses in Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the most widely used browser, and install spyware. The legality and ethics of Spyware is still widely debated to this day.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
SHU Chapel Assignment
Irrelevant in this blog, I know, but my Professor has given us a homework assignment in which my group is assigned to give suggestions about improving the website concerning the Chapel they are currently building (Sacred Heart University) to check out the website click here http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/18984_live_webcam_university_chapel_construction.cfm
My suggestions for the SHU Chapel website would be:
1) I think that there should be some text before the links, explaining why the school decided to build the chapel and just an overall paragraph discussing its importance and what it will add to the atmosphere at Sacred Heart. There are links to navigate in which more information can be obtained, but I think a simple paragraph would suit the website and provide a background that would entince people to click on the links below.
2) I also think that the top of the page should not say Live WEBCAM: University Chapel, it should say Sacred Heart University Chapel, or what ever they intend on calling it. That way it establishes some familiarity with the visitor
3) The picture of the chapel as a finished product should be larger than the picture of the chapel that is in construction now. The chapel that is in construction is not very eye appealing and while it is a good idea to get people involved with the construction of the chapel, a large picture of the finished product will remind the site visitor just how good it is going to look when it is finished.
4) The two pictures of the chapel should be side to side with the links underneath. I did not like how they aren't in comparison with one another. The link text, format permitting, should be a little larger and the list of links should be centered under the picture. The quote should also be placed at the top of the page, as it is a nice quote and might be ignored and overshadowed by the links that are placed about it.
Anyway these are my suggestions, let me know if you have any more!
Vquzeshuf,
Jess :-p
My suggestions for the SHU Chapel website would be:
1) I think that there should be some text before the links, explaining why the school decided to build the chapel and just an overall paragraph discussing its importance and what it will add to the atmosphere at Sacred Heart. There are links to navigate in which more information can be obtained, but I think a simple paragraph would suit the website and provide a background that would entince people to click on the links below.
2) I also think that the top of the page should not say Live WEBCAM: University Chapel, it should say Sacred Heart University Chapel, or what ever they intend on calling it. That way it establishes some familiarity with the visitor
3) The picture of the chapel as a finished product should be larger than the picture of the chapel that is in construction now. The chapel that is in construction is not very eye appealing and while it is a good idea to get people involved with the construction of the chapel, a large picture of the finished product will remind the site visitor just how good it is going to look when it is finished.
4) The two pictures of the chapel should be side to side with the links underneath. I did not like how they aren't in comparison with one another. The link text, format permitting, should be a little larger and the list of links should be centered under the picture. The quote should also be placed at the top of the page, as it is a nice quote and might be ignored and overshadowed by the links that are placed about it.
Anyway these are my suggestions, let me know if you have any more!
Vquzeshuf,
Jess :-p
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