Showing posts with label privacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label privacy. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Elsevier: bringing us conference SPAM and also empty privacy policies (literally and figuratively)

Just got an announcement for a meeting from Elsevier that I have absolutely no potential connection too.  It is yet another example of Science Conference Spam.  Not really shocking to get it from Elsevier to be honest.  But one part of the email struck me.  This was the end of the message which I post below:

DATA PROTECTION NOTICE

This email has been sent to xxxxxxx from Elsevier B.V., Radarweg 29, 1043 NX Amsterdam, The Netherlands, using 22 Times B.V. technology and platform. This is a one-off email sent to you in the belief that it will be of interest. We will not add your name and email address to our database unless you request further information. If you wish to ensure that you will not receive a future marketing message from us about these products or services, please send a reply message to exclusionlist@elsevier.com. We respect your privacy and do not rent or sell your personal information to any non-affiliated third parties without your consent, except as may be stated in our privacy policy at: Elsevier privacy policy.

For the 22 Times privacy policy, please visit: 22 Times B.V. privacy policy.

We obtained your name and email address from ISI Thomson Scientific, 3501 Market street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA. If you wish to be removed from the ISI Thomson Scientific mailing lists, please click here ISI Thomson Scientific.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. http://www.elsevier.com. registered office: Radarweg 29, 1043 NX Amsterdam, The Netherlands, under number 33156677, VAT number 002967455B65. All rights reserved.
This is a typical SPAMMY system where you get added to a list without requesting it.  So - want to know what the "22 Times" privacy policy is?  Well if you click the link you get


I can guess what it says but fortunately for those like me that don't read Dutch, Google offers to translate. So I clicked on that offer just to be sure: "Page not found."  Great policy.  Maybe I am supposed to pay to access it?  I note - I have not posted the actual original link in the email because it has what appears to be some tracking information embedded in it.  This I guess is what one could call an empty promise of privacy?

Anyway, next I clicked on the link for the Elsevier Privacy Policy.  This time there is an actual policy there.  Not surprisingly it is not very focused on the people at the other end.  Here it is below, with some highlighting by me

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

What does privacy mean to you? Please complete this survey

ThePrivacyPlace.Org Privacy Survey is Underway!

Researchers at ThePrivacyPlace.Org are conducting an online survey about privacy policies and user values. The survey is supported by an NSF ITR grant (National Science Foundation Information Technology Research) and was first offered in 2002. We are offering the survey again in 2008 to reveal how user values have changed over the intervening years. The survey results will help organizations ensure their website privacy practices are aligned with current consumer values.

The URL is: http://theprivacyplace.org/currentsurvey

We need to attract several thousand respondents, and would be most appreciative if you would consider helping us get the word out about the survey, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. The results will be made available via our project website (http://www.theprivacyplace.org/).

Prizes include
$100 Amazon.com gift certificates sponsored by Intel Co.
and
IBM gifts

On behalf of the research staff at ThePrivacyPlace.Org, thank you!

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