• Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Whitepapers
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
  • Newsletters
  • Whitepapers
    • Inqlogo 120x194
      Five things you should look for in choosing a Testing provider

      Choosing a Testing Partner can be complex.  So what do you look for?  This guide offers insight into the qualities you must look for in choosing a Testing provider.  Download now to learn more.

      Download
      Inqlogo 120x194
      Your questions answered: How to protect your data in the cloud

      The number of successful cyberattacks per year per company has increased by 46% over the last four years. But what really needs to be considered when exploring a solution? What questions need to be asked? Download to find out...

      Download
      Find whitepapers
      Search by title or subject area
      View all whitepapers
  • Follow us
    • Twitter
    • Newsletters
    • Facebook
  • Newsletter
  • Industry Voice
  • Data Strategy Spotlight
The Inquirer
The Inquirer
  • Home
  • News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Open Source
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Security
  • Trending
  • General election
  • Huawei sues FCC
  • Xerox vs HP
  • Galaxy S11
  • McAfee 2020
The Inquirer
  • Security

Google is tallying your ad-clicks to your physical shopping

Yeah, we saw you buy that Harry Styles album...

Google is tallying your ad-clicks to your physical shopping
You could be dancing on your touchpad as you steer your wonky trolley
  • Chris Merriman
  • Chris Merriman
  • @ChrisTheDJ
  • 24 May 2017
  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
0 Comments

GOOGLE IS demonstrating the value of its adverts in relation to in store purchases, and how it can help retailers serve up adverts based on your credit card activity.

Just days after news that Amazon looks set to bring its heavily automated stores to the UK, the Washington Post is reporting on plans for Google to monitor your credit card transactions in order to serve more relevant adverts.

We've said it before and we'll say it again. Eww.

After tracking five million transactions over five years, the company says that customers are 25 perc ent more likely to buy something in-store if they've previously clicked an advert.

It emphasises, however, that the data is anonymised and no credit card details are taken.

The Adwords Blog states: "If you collect email information at the point of sale for your loyalty program, you can import store transactions directly into AdWords yourself or through a third-party data partner. And even if your business doesn't have a large loyalty program, you can still measure store sales by taking advantage of Google's third-party partnerships, which capture approximately 70% of credit and debit card transactions in the United States."

It also emphasises that you can opt out of this, but it is very much opt-in by default.

Google hasn't actually explained how all this works, nor made clear what protections are in place to ensure personal data isn't intercepted, beyond the term "double-blind encryption."

"While we developed the concept for this product years ago, it required years of effort to develop a solution that could meet our stringent user privacy requirements," a Googler told the Post. "To accomplish this, we developed a new, custom encryption technology that ensures users' data remains private, secure, and anonymous."

But some studies have shown that with as little as three transactions, you can deduce who someone is without access to any of their personal data.

Google already has the ability to use Maps data to assist retail analysis of bricks and mortar habits, but so far, only a select few companies have taken up the offer.

With the prospect of this additional creepy data mining, privacy advocates are likely to be louder in their criticism of the move than the retailers who stand to benefit.

Google was recently criticised after its DeepMind division was given access to data about patient records within parts of the NHS without the full consent of those involved. µ

  • Tweet  
  • Facebook  
  •  
  •  
  • Send to  
  • Topics
  • Security
  • privacy
  • Security
  • Google

INQ Latest

The 16in MacBook is having some teething problems
The 16in MacBook is having some teething problems

Not all it's Mac'd up to be

  • Hardware
  • 06 December 2019
Microsoft appears to be planning a version of Windows 10X for IoT devicesIOT
Microsoft appears to be planning a version of Windows 10X for IoT devices

X marks the smart home

  • Software
  • 06 December 2019
Qualcomm is working on AR glasses with Pokémon Go's developer
Qualcomm is working on AR glasses with Pokémon Go's developer

The lens said the better

  • Hardware
  • 06 December 2019
Galaxy S11 specs, release date and price: Bloomberg adds weight to 108MP camera rumours
Galaxy S11 specs, release date and price: Bloomberg adds weight to 108MP camera rumours

Samsung is planning a camera 'overhaul'

  • Phones
  • 06 December 2019
Back to Top

Most read

iPhone 12: Apple tipped to release four OLED iPhones in 2020
iPhone 12: Apple tipped to release four OLED iPhones in 2020
Microsoft 365 set to arrive in Spring 2020 to unite the houses of Windows and Office
Microsoft 365 set to arrive in Spring 2020 to unite the houses of Windows and Office
BoJo hints at Huawei 5G ban before 'whipping out' his, er, Huawei P20 Pro
BoJo hints at Huawei 5G ban before 'whipping out' his, er, Huawei P20 Pro
Apple explains why the iPhone 11 is collecting mystery location data
Apple explains why the iPhone 11 is collecting location data
Plex launches a free, ad-supported Netflix rival
Plex launches a free, ad-supported Netflix rival
  • Contact
  • Marketing solutions
  • Enterprise IT Events
  • Incisive Media
  • Terms & conditions
  • Policies
  • Careers
  • Twitter
  • Newsletters
  • Facebook

© Incisive Business Media (IP) Limited, Published by Incisive Business Media Limited, New London House, 172 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5QR, registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 09177174 & 09178013

Digital publisher of the year
Digital publisher of the year 2010, 2013, 2016 & 2017