Venable partner Stu Ingis was quoted in a July 28 Ad Age story about recent comments by Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz indicating that the FTC is leaning toward adopting an opt-out model instead of legislation to regulate internet behavioral advertising.
The idea of a universal opt-out is nothing new, with a trade group and several leading internet companies allowing consumers to opt-out of ad targeting. However, the idea of a federally-mandated system is reviving the long-held concern that government regulation could decimate the online ad industry.
"I think all that the chairman was reflecting [on] was trying to find some simple choice for consumers, and a broader transparency -- and we support that," said Ingis, who serves as legal counsel for a broad coalition of advertisers, including the Direct Marketing Association, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo. "But a proposal like this could stymie and prohibit such fundamental practices to the economy and internet offerings."
The idea of a universal opt-out is nothing new, with a trade group and several leading internet companies allowing consumers to opt-out of ad targeting. However, the idea of a federally-mandated system is reviving the long-held concern that government regulation could decimate the online ad industry.
"I think all that the chairman was reflecting [on] was trying to find some simple choice for consumers, and a broader transparency -- and we support that," said Ingis, who serves as legal counsel for a broad coalition of advertisers, including the Direct Marketing Association, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo. "But a proposal like this could stymie and prohibit such fundamental practices to the economy and internet offerings."