B
Bill Sanderson
For Immediate Release
November 3, 2005
For more information, contact:
David McGuire, Center for Democracy &Technology
(202) 637-9800 x106
David Fewer, Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
(613) 562-5800 x2558
Center for Democracy & Technology and Canadian Internet Policy and
Public Interest Clinic File Complaints Against Alleged Spyware
Distributor
WASHINGTON, D.C. & OTTAWA, ONT. -- November 3, 2005 -- The Center for
Democracy & Technology (CDT) and the Canadian Internet Policy and
Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) today asked the US Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) and the Canadian Competition Bureau to investigate
the business practices of Montreal-based software distributor
Integrated Search Technologies and several of its business partners.
In a complaints filed with the FTC and the Competition Bureau, CDT
and CIPPIC allege that Integrated Search Technologies (IST) and its
affiliates have engaged in a widespread campaign of installing
unwanted software on users computers, and have done so using unfair
and deceptive practices prohibited by federal law.
CDT's complaint focuses on how IST and several of its affiliates --
NegativeBeats.com, ContextPlus, Meridian Business Ventures, Surf
Accuracy and Internet Optimizer -- rely used deceptive techniques to
dupe Internet users into downloading software they did not ask to
receive in exchange for little or no benefit. CIPPIC's complaint
documents how a specific 'bundle' of questionable software provided
by IST was installed with neither notice nor consent. The unwanted
programs, which can dramatically slow a computer's performance, are
installed in such a way that many users do not even know they are
there. Making matters worse, the companies behind the programs in
many cases deliberately design them to be difficult to uninstall.
"The inconvenience and lost productivity that these companies inflict
on unsuspecting Internet users is bad enough on its own," said CDT
Deputy Director Ari Schwartz. "But what is so insidious about these
schemes is the extent to which they undercut the trust and confidence
ordinary people have in using the Internet. Left unpunished,
scurrilous distributors like IST could render the online experience
so unattractive that for some, it's better to just turn off the
computer altogether."
David Fewer, staff counsel for CIPPIC, emphasizes the importance of
taking public and decisive legal action, on both sides of the border,
against purveyors of spyware. "IST is exceptional among spyware
vendors. IST's products consistently make lists of top ten spyware
threats on the Internet. And the amazing thing is that IST has been
so open about its practices. Law enforcement's attention to IST's
activities is overdue."
CDT is engaged in an ongoing effort to seek out the most egregious
distributors of adware and spyware on the Internet. CDT learned of
IST and its affiliate partners from complaints submitted to CDT's
spyware-action Web page (http://www.cdt.org/action/spyware/) and
complaints posted to other public Internet forums. Using an
established forensic process, CDT staffers visited the sites hosting
IST's software "bundle," and repeatedly observed the installation
process. Details of CDT's findings are outlined in the complaint,
which is available at
http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20051103istcompaint.pdf . CDT has a
strong history of working with the FTC on spyware cases. The FTC
filed cases against three of the companies listed in CDT's most
recent complaint (http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20040210cdt.pdf), filed
in February 2004.
CIPPIC, Canada's only technology law clinic, operates out of the
Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa. CIPPIC is also very
active in the fight against spyware. In addition to its own public
education projects and work with the Anti-Spyware Coalition
(www.antispywarecoalition.org), CIPPIC actively consults with the
Canadian federal government on spyware related matters and advocates
for law reform to address spyware vendor abuses. CIPPIC's complaint
against IST is available on its website at
http://www.cippic.ca/en/news/documents/IST-complaint.pdf.
-30-
--
--------------------------------------------------
David McGuire
Director of Communications
Center for Democracy & Technology
(202) 637 9800 x106
(202) 423 7432 (mob)
November 3, 2005
For more information, contact:
David McGuire, Center for Democracy &Technology
(202) 637-9800 x106
David Fewer, Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
(613) 562-5800 x2558
Center for Democracy & Technology and Canadian Internet Policy and
Public Interest Clinic File Complaints Against Alleged Spyware
Distributor
WASHINGTON, D.C. & OTTAWA, ONT. -- November 3, 2005 -- The Center for
Democracy & Technology (CDT) and the Canadian Internet Policy and
Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) today asked the US Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) and the Canadian Competition Bureau to investigate
the business practices of Montreal-based software distributor
Integrated Search Technologies and several of its business partners.
In a complaints filed with the FTC and the Competition Bureau, CDT
and CIPPIC allege that Integrated Search Technologies (IST) and its
affiliates have engaged in a widespread campaign of installing
unwanted software on users computers, and have done so using unfair
and deceptive practices prohibited by federal law.
CDT's complaint focuses on how IST and several of its affiliates --
NegativeBeats.com, ContextPlus, Meridian Business Ventures, Surf
Accuracy and Internet Optimizer -- rely used deceptive techniques to
dupe Internet users into downloading software they did not ask to
receive in exchange for little or no benefit. CIPPIC's complaint
documents how a specific 'bundle' of questionable software provided
by IST was installed with neither notice nor consent. The unwanted
programs, which can dramatically slow a computer's performance, are
installed in such a way that many users do not even know they are
there. Making matters worse, the companies behind the programs in
many cases deliberately design them to be difficult to uninstall.
"The inconvenience and lost productivity that these companies inflict
on unsuspecting Internet users is bad enough on its own," said CDT
Deputy Director Ari Schwartz. "But what is so insidious about these
schemes is the extent to which they undercut the trust and confidence
ordinary people have in using the Internet. Left unpunished,
scurrilous distributors like IST could render the online experience
so unattractive that for some, it's better to just turn off the
computer altogether."
David Fewer, staff counsel for CIPPIC, emphasizes the importance of
taking public and decisive legal action, on both sides of the border,
against purveyors of spyware. "IST is exceptional among spyware
vendors. IST's products consistently make lists of top ten spyware
threats on the Internet. And the amazing thing is that IST has been
so open about its practices. Law enforcement's attention to IST's
activities is overdue."
CDT is engaged in an ongoing effort to seek out the most egregious
distributors of adware and spyware on the Internet. CDT learned of
IST and its affiliate partners from complaints submitted to CDT's
spyware-action Web page (http://www.cdt.org/action/spyware/) and
complaints posted to other public Internet forums. Using an
established forensic process, CDT staffers visited the sites hosting
IST's software "bundle," and repeatedly observed the installation
process. Details of CDT's findings are outlined in the complaint,
which is available at
http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20051103istcompaint.pdf . CDT has a
strong history of working with the FTC on spyware cases. The FTC
filed cases against three of the companies listed in CDT's most
recent complaint (http://www.cdt.org/privacy/20040210cdt.pdf), filed
in February 2004.
CIPPIC, Canada's only technology law clinic, operates out of the
Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa. CIPPIC is also very
active in the fight against spyware. In addition to its own public
education projects and work with the Anti-Spyware Coalition
(www.antispywarecoalition.org), CIPPIC actively consults with the
Canadian federal government on spyware related matters and advocates
for law reform to address spyware vendor abuses. CIPPIC's complaint
against IST is available on its website at
http://www.cippic.ca/en/news/documents/IST-complaint.pdf.
-30-
--
--------------------------------------------------
David McGuire
Director of Communications
Center for Democracy & Technology
(202) 637 9800 x106
(202) 423 7432 (mob)
