Comment Don't have to out the customer (?) (Score 1) 195
In your example, what you are really pointing out is that whatever percentage of customers click on the links, or even view the email with downloaded pictures, are revealing themselves and losing their privacy. In order for the bank to receive a commission it needs to admit that particular customer was indeed part of the chosen demographics.
There should be ways for the bank to get the kickback without the customer being identified specifically. A coupon could have a non-unique barcode to keep track of how many customers the bank sent the merchant's way without the coupon being specific to the client. Same goes for links in email; isn't it more trouble to have every click-through associated uniquely with an email?
Can someone clarify how viewing the email with downloaded pictures necessarily identifies the customer? I suppose my arguments would be moot if that was the case.
