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You wanted comments about your informal poll:

1- Privacy is inextricably linked with security and can be confusing if not defined properly. Recent other "formal" market analyses show OVER 70% of ordinary US citizens are concerned about online privacy, with many unwilling to shop on the net for fear of identity theft, and intrusions. Parents are very worried about their children being watched. Etc.

Yet another report yesterday: 20-40% of online credit card purchases are reported fraudulent. Privacy is a huge issue for everyone, including etailers, and charge card companies, and of course the ordinary citizen.

2- I presume the poll is an eclectic sample of researchers and developers who are biased, naturally. Ask them the question: "Would you be concerned if someone, unbeknowst to you, followed you through a mall and recorded all of your shopping visits, and transactions, everytime?" "Would you be concerned only if you saw someone doing that?"

So, who cares whether data mining researchers are concerned or not. The ordinary citizen, and the core of e-commerce KNOW it is of real concern. A worthwhile and very interesting area of research&development: "appropriate" data mining that targets and personalizes while also PROTECTING PRIVACY. It is possible! Just wait and see.

sal

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