An attorney says she saw her library reading habits reflected in mobile ads. That’s not supposed to happen

An attorney says she saw her library reading habits reflected in mobile ads. That's not supposed to happen

May 18, 2024 at 01:09PM

Attorney Christine Dudley was startled to see in-game ads on her Android tablet that mirrored the audiobooks she had recently checked out from the San Francisco Public Library. This raised concerns over the privacy of library reading material. This reflects broader concerns about digital privacy in libraries, as well as the use of library records in legal and political disputes.

Based on the meeting notes, the key takeaways are:

1. Privacy concerns regarding library reading material have historical roots dating back to the early 20th century. There has been a longstanding commitment to safeguarding the privacy of library patrons as codified in the American Library Association Code of Ethics.

2. The evolution of technology and digital media has presented new challenges for ensuring the privacy of library patrons, with concerns raised about data collection and advertising targeting based on reading habits.

3. Recent instances of privacy concerns include the potential violation of patron privacy rights in cases where library records are accessed without proper authorization and controversies arising from state legislative actions.

4. Analysis of ad targeting suggests that individual reading habits may be used for remarketing purposes, raising questions about the lack of transparency and protection of privacy rights.

5. Several entities involved, such as OverDrive, Baker & Taylor, and the San Francisco Public Library, have different privacy policies and practices, which creates complexities in understanding data usage and ad targeting.

As an executive assistant, it is important to ensure that these takeaways are accurately and clearly presented for further discussion or action items. Feel free to ask for any additional information or clarifications.

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