Consumer watchdogs file FTC complaint urging mobile ads investigation

Consumer watchdogs Center for Digital Democracy and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission urging an investigation into mobile advertising. Included in the complaint are five practices of mobile advertising methods that the groups say are "unfair and deceptive" and violate consumer privacy: behavioral targeting, location-based targeting, user tracking/mobile analytics, audience segmentation, and data mining.

Google, Nokia, Yahoo!, AT&T, and Verizon were all listed as companies who have violated privacy rights. Google's product manager for mobile services in North America defended the practices, saying that they provide customers with the option to opt in or opt out, and that the mobile advertising practices "add value" to the mobile experience. [via mocoNews]