Certain people might want to tone down the anti-obama campaign on here! http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/200...es-buy-stake-in-twitter-blog-monitoring-firm/
Far more dangerous than the CIA's dalliance is the explosion of spying on Americans by corporate entities. Of course, such a tool can also be pointed inward, at domestic bloggers or tweeters. Visible already keeps tabs on web 2.0 sites for Dell, AT&T and Verizon. For Microsoft, the company is monitoring the buzz on its Windows 7 rollout. For Spam-maker Hormel, Visible is tracking animal-right activists’ online campaigns against the company. The opportunity for abuse is infinite.
Most of the companies I work at monitor the Internet and media for what is being said about the company. I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. They do it to understand the impact of advertising and media relations for the most part. Nothing too different than Google. What I found interesting is new rules regarding Bloggers... From http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_13516819 "The post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement," said the agency in a news release. "Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service." I like this... as understanding the source behind the information is important in weighing its validity. I know this will piss off some companies though... and Bloggers too probably.
