• by Joe Mandese , March 4, 2009

IAB chief Randall Rothenberg acknowledged that the battle over ownership of consumer (ie. user) data would be a central tension in ratifying new terms and conditions between Madison Avenue and the online industry, but said they have a mutual interest, some common goals, and even a common enemy.

The common enemy, of course, is the federal government, and various state governments, which are leaning more heavily on the advertising and media industry to “self-regulate” consumer privacy concerns with interactive media.

He called upon everyone in the roomful of attendees at the Four As show to join a multi trade association effort started by the Four As, the ANA, the IAB, the DMA and others, to nip the privacy concern in the bud by developing an effective self-regulatory policy.

GroupM’s Gotlieb echoed that, adding that there is no way agencies can serve their clients, if they don’t address that fundamental issue.

“We cannot do the job of servicing our clients, if we cannot serve the interests of those people who protect consumer privacy,” he cautioned.