NebuAd Inc., a company that sought to target ads to consumers based on their online behavior, is going out of business after facing scrutiny over whether its technology infringed on the privacy of Internet surfers.
In court filings this week, NebuAd said it has been winding down its business since last year. It laid off virtually all its employees in July and August, closing its office in Redwood City, Calif., in September. NebuAd once employed over 60 people.
NebuAd has “essentially ceased to exist,” according to documents filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
NebuAd’s clients – Internet service providers who wanted to share the ad revenue with NebuAd – started dropping out after Congress held hearings last July on the technology, which examined consumers’ Internet traffic to determine their interests. Although individual Web sites routinely target advertising, privacy advocates argu ed that NebuAd’s all-encompassing approach went too far, and said consumers’ overall Web surfing should be tracked only if they opted into the system.
Among the cable and phone operators that abandoned interest in NebuAd were Charter Communications Inc., Bresnan Communications LLC, The Washington Post Co.’s Cable One Inc. and Embarq Corp.
In Britain, a similar company called Phorm Inc. has also faced complaints since it struck partnerships with three access providers reaching 70 percent of Britain’s broadband market – BT Group PLC, Virgin Media Inc. and Carphone Warehouse Group PLC’s TalkTalk.
But Phorm spokesman Justin Griffiths said the company has retained its partners. BT has completed its trial of Phorm’s ad-targeting service and expects to deploy it this year.
Griffiths said Phorm asks consumers upfront after they log on whether they want to receive targeted ads. Griffiths added that the company has received assurances from the British governmen t that its technology “can be operated in a lawful manner.”
Even so, Richard Clayton from Internet think tank Foundation for Information Policy Research in Cambridge, England, believes Phorm is getting some snubs from potential partners.
“I haven’t seen any other ISPs queuing up to associate themselves with Phorm at all,” he said. “A number of smaller ones have said they won’t go anywhere near it.”
Gene Hackman Tributes Pour In From Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, Clint Eastwood and Paul Feig, Among Others
Director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Viola Davis, director Paul Feig and and actor-director Clint Eastwood are among those paying tribute to Gene Hackman after his death at age 95. Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their New Mexico home, authorities said Thursday.
"The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution." — Francis Ford Coppola on Instagram.
"There was no finer actor than Gene. Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much." — actor-director Clint Eastwood in a statement.
"He was a tough nut, Gene Hackman, but he was really good and he was really difficult. Like, we can say it now, but he was a tough guy because older great actors do not give young directors much of a chance. They're really rough on 'em." — Bill Murray, recounting to The Associated Press Thursday how Hackman worked on the set of the "Royal Tenenbaums," including doing multiple takes flawlessly when other performers didn't nail the scene. "He was a great one. He was a great actor."
"We have lost a true legend. The magnificent Gene Hackman has passed away. A man whose breath of talent was immeasurable. Growing up on his movies was an absolute thrill for me. To observe his remarkable facility and humanity in every role was something to behold. Whatever film he was in, he made it better. A force of nature like no other and as such there will never be another like him." — actor Cary Elwes.
"The greatest ... " — director Edgar Wright on X.
"So awful. Gene was such an inspiration to so many of... Read More