Google launches behavioral ads

At the time, Google disclosed that it had begun to move Web “cookie-based” ad targeting beyond its own sites and to the network it acquired when it bought ad firm DoubleClick. The new ad program is based on that effort, initially tracking user behavior across partner advertising sites and its own YouTube video site.

Google admitted that behavioral advertising raises privacy concerns but said it offers a number of tools to help individual users control how their information is shared. Google’s Ads Preferences Manager lets users view, delete or add interest categories. Users can also opt out of the advertising cookie altogether, either by manually visiting Google’s privacy site or using a plug-in that will maintain their preferences over time.