But unlike the oil giants, which at least sell products to real consumers, the extractive firms of cyberspace merely provide "free" services to their users in return for their personal data trails, which they then sell to advertisers in a vast, hidden global system of high-speed online auctions.
PowerChannel, which offers free set-top boxes in return for their personal data, ran trials in the United States and Britain, but chose to start in Britain because of the "lower PC penetration and the greater comfort individuals have with interactive TV," said James Gambrell, PowerChannel's president.
What they want in return for their money is fuzzy.
In return for their services, the algae receive essential nutrients.
But in return for their wealth, we expect honesty.
The consortium wanted boardroom control in return for their investment.
Nevertheless, some also took money in return for their protection.
Players were paid in return for their participation.
No reimbursement was offered in return for their participation.
He has identified three groups: First, there are "privacy fundamentalists," who zealously guard their personal information, reject all offers of consumer benefit in return for personal data and tend to be suspicious of efforts by law enforcement to use surveillance technologies like wiretaps.
