Much of the digital advertising industry's success has been built on technological advances in targeting in order to put the right advertisement in front of the right consumer at the right time. Marketers and agencies love it, technologists love to build it, but consumers sometimes find it downright creepy. Standing at the crossroads between a growing, vibrant industry and the privacy rights of our citizens is Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Leibowitz is both a longstanding advocate for industry self-regulation -- rather than governmental regulation -- but also argues that it's time for our industry to step up to the plate and take consumer privacy seriously.
Next week, Chairman Leibowitz will keynote "ad:tech inspire" at the Javits Center in New York on Nov.8. In this interview, he gives us a sneak peek at what his remarks will address.
Brad Berens: What is the biggest challenge to industry self-regulation?
Jon Leibowitz: It is always challenging to implement self-regulation, but here there are no challenges that can't be met. To date, the online behavioral advertising industry, led by the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), has done well to put together a very broad membership of advertisers, online publishers, third-party advertising networks, and other organizations to participate in the DAA's self-regulatory program.
The DAA's efforts have advanced the ball, and the DAA can continue making progress by cooperating and collaborating with other stakeholders, including browser vendors that are offering a header-based "Do Not Track" mechanism. The biggest hurdle, though, is the advertising industry's unreasonable fear that advertising will dry up if consumers are given choices about tracking.
Berens: One of the most common statements in the digital ad industry is "consumers want relevant ads," and folks use this to legitimize behavioral targeting in order to serve those relevant ads. But do you agree with the initial statement that consumers actively desire advertising that is relevant to their online behavior?
Leibowitz: I do believe that most consumers would prefer to receive an advertisement that is more relevant to them than an ad for a product or service in which they have no interest. It is not a stretch to imagine that a person who is interested in purchasing a new car might prefer to receive an ad targeted to that interest as opposed to an ad for teeth whiteners. That being said, numerous consumer surveys, new reports, and comments filed with the FTC show that many consumers have strong concerns about being followed around online. These consumers want greater transparency about the practice of online tracking and, after understanding what they would give up, the ability to say, "No thank you." And of course, if they like relevant ads, only a few of them will say, "No thank you."
Berens: In the next three years, how likely is either a "Do Not Track" registry for digital advertising modeled on the "Do Not Call" list or a "Consumers Bill of Rights" with regard to digital ad targeting? What is the likelihood of legislation?
Leibowitz: Privacy is a bipartisan issue. The FTC and many members of Congress are encouraged by the efforts of the online advertising industry, browser companies, and others. Still, that said, there is always the possibility of legislation, so these groups would be best served by continuing their work to give consumers choice about tracking.
Berens: Do you believe that consumers understand the implicit bargain that they get free or subsidized content in exchange for advertising?
Leibowitz: Based on what we have seen in the comments to the Commission's proposed privacy report, many, if not most, consumers do not understand this implicit bargain. Indeed, there is a huge opportunity for companies to do a better job of articulating the value proposition at work in this space. If companies explain to consumers what information they collect, how they use that information, and what the consumer receives in return, and if they give consumers the ability to say "No thanks," consumers will be less worried about the practice. Companies that are forthcoming about their practices can engender more consumer trust, and can distinguish themselves from those that would prefer to hide in the shadows.
