• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, November 4, 2005

The online watchdog group Center for Democracy & Technology Wednesday asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Montreal company Integrated Search Technologies and several of its affiliates for allegedly installing adware without first obtaining consumers' informed consent.

The move comes just several weeks after adware company 180solutions announced it had ended its relationship with Integrated Search Technologies.

The Center for Democracy & Technology charged that Integrated Search Technologies distributes ad-serving programs by bundling them with NegativeBeats.com, a site that claims to offer free MP3 downloads--although, according to the complaint, it appears to be impossible to actually download music from the site. NegativeBeats.com, based in Bucarest, Romania, allegedly installs Integrated Search Technologies' adware to consumers without first disclosing that they will receive pop-up ads as a result.

"Almost immediately upon installation the user starts receiving pop-up ads. These ads are ... from many sources and create a significant drain on usability," stated the complaint.

In its complaint, the Center for Democracy & Technology asks that the FTC investigate and issue an injunction against Integrated Search Technologies.

The group also, in sweeping language, went on to accuse much of the adware industry of improperly installing adware. "CDT believes that the practices in this case, while egregious, are not atypical of the deceptive and unfair acts committed by adware companies and their distributors over the past three years," states the complaint.