Omniture partners with ComScore
It sure didn't take long for Adobe to start looking to get a return on it's investment ... as mentioned in my previous post
(Adobe to buy Omniture for $1.8 billion) Adobe has reached an agreement to partner with ComScore ...
ComScore Press Release - there are also several other noteworthy media quotes ...
"Through the relationship, Omniture will provide the clickstream data it tracks for its publisher clients, including page views, clicks, video views, mobile interactions, and Facebook application interactions, to comScore. In return, Omniture will provide its clients with demographic and psychographic data on their respective sites from comScore". [source]
"So, for example, a large company such as Disney might have multiple divisions -- such as ESPN or Disney theme parks and cruise lines -- and they can pick and choose the information they want to share". [source]
If you want to see what ComScore does (actually tracks) ... you can view their Privacy Policy (caution it will give you a headache! ...) ComScore certainly has a dubious past, including most antivirus/antispyware programs detecting their program as spyware ... however Comscore describes itself as "researchware" ... yeah right! ... I for one don't want anyone viewing my data when purchasing products on the Internet, or from other sources ...
"Once you install our application, it monitors all of the Internet behavior that occurs on the computer on which you install the application, including both your normal web browsing and the activity that you undertake during secure sessions"
"We may also combine the information that you provide us with information obtained from other sources (such as consumer preference reporting companies, credit reporting agencies and companies that collect TV viewing information) using confidential matching procedures".
Last year the Register had an article worth reading ... then there was the Sears spyware allegations ... The Sears "Community" Installation of ComScore (January 1, 2008) finally settled by the FTC ...
It will be interesting to see if the sites that use Omniture and/or ComScore ammend their Privacy Policies to reflect the changes and inform their visitors that their information will now be shared ... (aka: sold to the highest bidder)