A privacy firestorm at DoubleClick; Web highflier's executives, blindsided by a backlash, are scrambling to recover

Article Abstract:

DoubleClick Inc. is under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission and the states of New York and Michigan concerning its data-collection and other practices that may violate Internet users' right to privacy. Privacy advocates are particularly concerned that since acquiring Abacus Direct, the combined Abacus-DoubleClick database can now make a connection between the sites a user visits and that person's real name and address.

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors, Market Research Services, Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling, Consumer Protection Programs NEC, Commercial nonphysical research, Methods, Safety and security measures, Internet security, Web sites (World Wide Web), Web sites, Marketing research, Market research, Marketing research firms, Internet/Web database software, Internet database software

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AltaVista, Kozmo distance themselves from DoubleClick over privacy worries

Article Abstract:

DoubleClick's corporate partners AltaVista and Kozmo.com Inc. are scrambling to distance themselves from the online ad company in the wake of a Federal Trade Commission investigation into the company's practices of accumulating data on customers. Michigan is suing DoubleClick on the state's consumer protection law. Center for Democracy and Technology warned Kozmo it's alliance with DoubleClick could be in violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act. AltaVista changed its policy recently saying they won't release personal information about customers.

Legal issues & crime, Michigan, Cases, Internet service providers, Telecommunications regulations, Joint ventures, Government communications regulation, AltaVista Co., Kozmo.com Inc.

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Cybertales of woe; a look at two online ventures that didn't make it

Article Abstract:

The failure of electronic commerce companies OnCart and My-CD illustrate the difficulty in making a profit in the exploding yet fiercely-competitive Internet retail market. Expenses, distribution problems and unfulfilled promises doomed OnCart, an online grocery shopping pioneer that went online in Nov 1997 and eventually served five US cities. Customers were promised delivery within 48 hours of placing orders at a local supermarket's retail prices, but OnCart's labor-intensive service frequently failed to provide every requested item and thereby drove off customers. A $9.95-per-order fee accounted for its sole revenue. Japan-based toymaker Bandai in May 1998 debuted My-CD, which aimed to let customers compile their favorite songs on a 74-minute CD. My-CD's inventory, however, was limited to more than 30,000 songs. Record labels refused access to new releases or popular performers, while other artists balked at their possible combination with unsavory acts.

Japan, Organizational history, Management, Services, Internet, Electronic commerce, E-commerce, Company business management, OnCart, My-CD

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