Press Release: Key Advertising Groups Committed to Strong Industry

SELF-REGULATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRIVACY GUIDELINES FOR ONLINE BEHAVIORAL ADVERTISING DATA USE AND COLLECTION

NEW YORK (Feb 12, 2009) - Four leading marketing and advertising industry associations restated their commitment to developing comprehensive privacy principles for online behavioral advertising following the challenge issued today by the Federal Trade Commission. The cross-industry group represents the first time the entire marketing and media industry has come together to develop a cohesive and far-reaching self-regulatory effort for interactive advertising. The associations are the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB), a leading organization dedicated to advancing marketplace trust, is also part of the effort.

The joint industry task force supports the FTC's goal of a comprehensive and effective self-regulatory program that protects both consumers and businesses engaged in interactive advertising. The group will continue its engagement with policymakers, businesses, consumers, and other important stakeholders while evaluating public policy issues surrounding online behavioral advertising. The associations look forward to reviewing the FTC principles released today and building on the self-regulation efforts already established with the FTC's initial self-regulatory principles issued in December 2007. These include education and transparency, consumer notification and choice, data security, and self-regulatory enforcement.

The members of these associations, together with other participants of the group, represent thousands of advertisers, agencies, marketers, publishers, media companies, ad networks, and other service providers. This also includes the major participants in the online advertising marketplace. 

The associations have come together to address concerns about the use of online consumer data, while preserving advertising that supports free online content available to consumers, and what has become an important and growing industry for the U.S. economy. The group recognizes the importance and responsibility of effective self-regulation in online and behavioral marketing, and applauds the FTC's continued commitment to it.

Press Contacts:

Mike Zaneis
Vice President Public Policy, IAB
202.253.1466
mike@iab.net

Marla Aaron
Marketing Communications Director, IAB
212.380.4714
marla@iab.net