Protecting Privacy, Promoting Consumer Rights and Ensuring Corporate Accountability

The Role of Interactive Advertising and Marketing

Perhaps the most powerful - but largely invisible - force shaping our digital media reality is the role of interactive advertising and marketing. Much of our online experience, from websites to search engines to social networks, is being shaped to better serve advertisers. Increasingly, individuals are being electronically "shadowed" online, our actions and behaviors observed, collected, and analyzed so that we can be "micro-targeted." Now a $20 billion a year industry [2007 estimates] in the U.S., with expected dramatic growth to $80 billion or more by 2011, the goal of interactive marketing is to use the awesome power of new media to deeply engage you in what is being sold: whether it's a car, a vacation, a politician or a belief. An explosion of digital technologies, such as behavioral targeting and retargeting, "immersive" rich media, and virtual reality, are being utilized to drive the market goals of the largest brand advertisers and many others.

A major infrastructure has emerged to expand and promote the interests of this sector, including online advertising networks, digital marketing specialists, and trade lobbying groups.

The role which online marketing and advertising plays in shaping our new media world, including at the global level, will help determine what kind of society we will create.
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Hurricanes

Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Scientists can now predict hurricanes, but people who live in coastal communities should plan what they will do if they are told to evacuate.
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What to Look for When Choosing a Retirement Community

Deciding where to live in retirement is one of the most important decisions people will make. For those considering a move to a retirement community, there are more choices than ever before that cater to a variety of lifestyle and health care needs. These tips can help you make the best possible decision.
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You Are Already Consuming Cloned Animal Products

Are food products from clones labeled? I'm afraid not. The FDA feels that any additional measures relating to food derived from adult clones and their offspring, including labeling, is not necessary. They claim that there is no science-based reason to use labels to distinguish between milk derived from clones and that from conventional animals. What do you think about that?
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Identity Theft and Telemarketing

Your personal information is valuable. Protect it! Guard your Social Security, Bank, credit card and Driver's license numbers. Some criminals lie on the telephone to get your personal information. They may lie about who they are, claiming that they're from a legitimate company and that you have a problem with your account. Or they may pose as representatives of a bank or government agency and ask you to confirm your billing information. Once they have your personal information, they can use it to commit identity theft charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
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