Brian Ristuccia has analysed the output of the CueCat (advertising barcode scanner, packed with recent issues of Forbes and free at Radio Shack), and it’s got some bad mojo. As he explained on Slashdot, everytime that you scan a barcode, it broadcasts the serial number of the CueCat that you own. When you get your CueCat at Radio Shack, they get your name and address first. Forbes, of course, knows your name and address.
So what’s really going on is that they’re collecting data on what websites that you go to and what interests you in that magazine. Very creepy.
It gets worse. A few people (Pierre-Philippe Coupard, Michael Rothwell, JP Sugarbroad, Kevin Fowlks) wrote ports of the program for Linux, and they all got a cease-and-desist-type letter yesterday. Their point (rightly) is that they never agreed to a license or terms of use, and that analysing CueCat output is fully covered under both legislative and judicial umbrellas.
Anyhow, check out the discussion on Slashdot today. I’m writing a nasty letter to Forbes demanding that they explain if and how they’re spying on their readers. I recommend y’all do the same.