Ohio takes a commercial break
- By Dibya Sarkar
- Jan 07, 2001
Ohio is one of the states that is considering allowing advertisements on
its Web sites. But judgment is being reserved until these and other concerns
are addressed:
* Possible privacy abuses when a user clicks on a Web advertisement.
* Lack of accepted public-sector standards and guidelines regarding
"best practices" in Web advertising.
* Possible impairment of the state's Web site performance or creation
of confusing Web sites.
* Erosion of customer confidence — people may believe that state services
or information are controlled by or associated with the advertiser directly
or indirectly.
* Apparent endorsement of a business or product by the state or an agency.
* Inability to redirect visitors back to the state Web site from an
advertiser's site, and the possibility of visitors being directed to problematic
sites.
* Impact on revenue allocation, including implications for agencies
receiving federal funds.
* Cost, including the potentially high risk for litigation over Web
advertisements.
For a copy of Ohio's policy, go to www.state.oh.us/das/dcs/opp/pdfs_policy/opp-035.pdf
to download a file in Portable Document Format.