""which in turn will help them do a better job with targeted ads. ""
The only "good job" with targeted adverts is..... no adverts.
Facebook just got into the consensual Wi-Fi data-pumping game after it inked a deal with networking giant Cisco that will allow businesses to better target people's shopping and social habits. The free content ad network will play swapsies with its users by getting them to agree to hand over their "customer preferences and …
...then you are the fee or alternatively TANSTAAFL
Don't like it, don't use it. Targeted ad's are there so that facebook et all can run their DC's etc. Doesn't make them right but you (currently) have a choice to avoid using these services, it's not mandatory to post your every action live using whatever wifi is available.
I'll continue to use my mobile connection to do what it was defined to do, thanks. Or use the existing free wifi that shops and shopping centres already provide.
Targetted ads? Seriously? I bought a Velux blind about 2 months ago. I've had nothing but ads for Velux blinds ever since (locked down machine, no adblock etc). Because, y'know, buying that blind is going to be such a regular experience that it's good I see ads for it.
They were actually looking for the phrase 'a made up term, that sounds a bit trendy as it has an 'X' in it, created in the vain hope that it might catch on and sound like a real thing we can charge for rather than just a way to get as much data on people as possible and sell it on. Also it sounds better than "personal data pimping"'
Anybody up for a fork of Android? Features to be included: Spoofing MAC address and geolocation data, randomly selecting user ID and contacts from a pool, random web searches so the real ones become statistically insignificant, etc. They want data? Give them data, lots of it, all useless crap.