PART A

Answer from your point of view, experiences, opinion and thoughts

Critics of targeted marketing strategies argue that this practice is discriminatory and unfair, especially if such a strategy encourages a group of people to buy a product or service that may be injurious to them or that they cannot afford.

For example, community leaders in largely minority neighborhoods have staged protests against billboards promoting beer or cigarettes in these areas. However, the National Advertisers argue that banning targeted marketing constitutes censorship and thus is a violation of the First Amendment.

What are your views regarding this issue? Please provide specific supports for your answers.

PART B

Answer from your point of view, experiences, opinion and thoughts

Note: Watch the video above before you begin to provide your answers to the discussion question.

Bridal registries specify very clearly the gifts that the couple wants. How do you feel about this

practice?

Should people actually specify what you should buy for them, or should a gift be a more

personal expression from you or should it be dictated by the giftee? Do you think that this is a trend?

PART C

A firm called Global Rainmakers Inc. (GRI) announced a partnership with Leon, a large city in

Mexico, to deploy iris scanning technology it developed to make Leon “the most secure city in the world.”

The city is creating a database of irises. It will automatically scan criminals’ eyes when

they are convicted, though other citizens will have the option to choose whether they want their data included. When residents catch a train or bus, or take out money from an ATM, they will submit to an iris scan rather than swiping a card. They will not have to present ID at a bar or a liquor store. The police will monitor these actions, so for example, a convicted shoplifter might not be allowed to enter a certain store.

The company’s CEO claims, “There’s a lot of convenience to this – you’ll have nothing to carry

except your eyes. In ten years, you may just have one sensor that is literally able to identify

hundreds of people in motion at a distance and determine their geo-location and their intent –

you’ll be able to see how many eyeballs looked at a billboard. You can start to track from the point a person is browsing on Google and finds something they want to purchase, to the point they cross the threshold in a Target or Walmart and actually make the purchase. You start to see the entire life cycle of marketing.”

Yes, it’s promising and therefore, lots of convenience and enhanced security may be in our future. Is the trade-off in terms of our privacy worth it, or is “Big Brother” knocking at the door?