a couple of comments: a. This is indeed "a market for eyeballs" and direct marketing, depending on whether it is sucessful (i.e. in providing us with information we appreciate) or not, is either helpful or it further adds to the informtion "noise" on the web. b. wrt Allan's comment, I think I understand your argument, but still I feel more comfortable will pulling the information I need, instead of being served with the information I am supposed to like. If indeed direct marketing is going to help reduce the information noise that exists on the web today, I fear that this is too big a price, and that there should be other ways to spread information efficiently. In fact, I am sure that by considering infomation as a product in itself, then it should bear the same characteristics of other digital products, and thus benefit from both anarchic production and distribution models (services such as digg, reddit, stumbleupon etc. seem to aim at this direction). Giving up informational self-determination should not be perceived as a necessary sacrifice for more relevant information.

-- NikolaosVolanis - 23 Oct 2009

Steven, maybe better advertising might be the solution to copyright free music profitable for the singers and performers? As Professor Moglen says, the cost of producing music has declined rapidly and those who produce music might now be able to earn more than just 7% of the sales of their music, net of all expenses (sushi flown in from Tokyo). If music studios are gone, then their ability to bombard us with really good advertising to let us know about the music that we might potentially really want if you had known about it is gone as well. Then we might have to rely on Facebook and Google who really know us, to let us know these new acts that we might like.

For example, Facebook knows that we attended the Columbia Law and Opera Society Party, so we might like the new Paul Potts release? Google knows we've been searching for Backstreet Boys albums, so we might like this new boy band named BSB that looks like and sounds like the Backstreet Boys? Paul Potts and BSB can now produce their music in their own studios and reach us without having the studios marketing to us. We could get our music much more cheaply and the artists could get what is rightfully theirs.

So I guess my answer to Steven's question -- “Is the cost of giving away data regarding my personal preferences outweighed by the benefits that accrue to me as a consumer if I do?” -- is -- YES!

-- AllanOng - 23 Oct 2009

ElidedElided? , it was not "unwitting" and I hope that it is not "insurmountable." I agree with Stephen that "this is not an altogether easy question to answer." I am conflicted. I don't know how I feel about freedom or even what freedom means in this situation. I like things, particularly things tailor-made for people like me. I like pluralism and equality. I think pluralism and equality might be sacrificed by these forms of advertising.

-- StevenWu - 22 Oct 2009

Steven’s post asked a simple question: “Is the cost of giving away data regarding my personal preferences outweighed by the benefits that accrue to me as a consumer if I do?” In my mind, this is not an altogether easy question to answer.

-- StephenClarke - 22 Oct 2009

This might be very bad for liberty, but it would be weighed against the benefit of lots of wonderful products.

You have unwittingly managed to succinctly identify the quintessential trouble of the current age: freedom is not valued. At least not to any meaningful extent if it is easily superseded by "lots of wonderful products".

This is the insurmountable obstacle faced by those who try to fight for human freedom. This is what has wearied them, made them disillusioned. This is what would make even victory hollow. For what gift do you bestow on someone who does not value it? How can there be solidarity if you spurn dignity?

-- ElidedElided - 22 Oct 2009

There are so many products out there that I would love if only I knew about them. I would love to be provided with information about all of these free software alternatives. I would love to know about that new and delicious microwave popcorn. In fact, I would use a browser if it tracked my information, the websites I visit and the e-mails I wrote if it introduced me to products that I wanted to buy. Advertising would not be an annoyance, but a feature the way that it is a feature for those types of people who read the NYTimes Real Estate section, various electronic product magazines or www.fatwallet.com. Perhaps over time, producers could use this information to make even better products for me. Three hundred years ago, such good service could only be obtained through a privately commissioned artisan.

This might be a bit eerie. Perhaps it would allow Gates, Jobs and Murdoch to exert a large amount of social influence. Their politics are not my politics. This might be very bad for liberty, but it would be weighed against the benefit of lots of wonderful products.

-- StevenWu - 22 Oct 2009

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