Lazycoder

The Privacy implications of the Attention API

Robert Scoble Rediscovers Hailstorm: “There are more problems to discover as one attempts to build the Attention API and an Attention economy”

(Via Dare Obasanjo aka Carnage4Life.)

Dare and Steve have pointed out some of the technical problems the mythical Attention.org “specs” would run into. But I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the freaking PRIVACY implications! Would you stand for the government knowing that you are standing on Market street near a Starbucks? Then why is it OK for every business you’ve ever used to know? Lets look at Dares Amazon example and expand it a little more.

Now let’s use a more concrete example, like Amazon. The folks at Amazon know exactly what kind of movies, music and books I like. It’s possible to imagine them making a deal with TicketMaster to show me upcoming concerts I may be interested in when I visit their site. The reverse is also possible, Amazon may be able to do a better job of recommending music to me based on concerts I have attended whose tickets I purchased via TicketMaster.

Both Ticketmaster and Amazon know which credit card you used to purchase your items. Lets say you used a Mastercard. Ticketmaster might partner with Visa and decide that you might like to have a Visa card, so they share your purchasing information with a few of the credit card partners, they decide to send to an SMS advertising their low, low rates. Which you signed up for since you signed up for the “Attention API”. Ticketmaster might partner with Clear Channel. Clear Channel decides to run a phone poll asking you how you liked the last concert you went to or they might want to send you ads/call you up when a band they want to promote is having a concert in your town. Just because you saw 50 cent last week doesn’t mean you want to know about the Vanilla Ice “even icier” tour just because Clear Channel has invested a load of dough in the tour.

All this, and more, will happen. Hell, it’s already happening. I don’t want a lot of companies knowing any more about me than they have to. Let alone being able to target me for marketing campaigns.

P.S. I’m avoiding touching on another subject that both the Attention API and Scobles mythical “Smart Search” rants have in common. They both require that the software read your mind. Once the software reaches precognitive state, I’m sure it will be put to better use at eHarmony.com and Match.com. “Will I get lucky with this guy/girl if I email them?”