• by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, September 22, 2009

After Danny Sullivan and John Battelle mentioned Google on stage, the discussion inevitably turned to privacy. An audience member wanted to know if Google wasn’t especially vulnerable to criticism because of the vast amount of data about consumers -- search queries, email addresses, etc. -- the company had amassed.

Sullivan and Battelle basically responded that it wasn’t fair to single Google out when other players -- like Internet service providers -- had far more data about people’s online activity. The speakers appeared to agree that they didn’t recall “people picking up the torches” about ISPs and privacy.

In fact, ISPs’ attempted entrance into behavioral targeting drew intense scrutiny in Washington last summer. Congress called hearings, lawmakers denounced the plans, and would-be ISP-partner NebuAd went out of business.