The Monster Who Invented the Papa Bad Says He's Sorry

The invention of the internet popup ad by Ethan Zuckerman is linked to a pervasive sense of guilt about enabling a culture of surveillance. Initially intended to support a free internet through advertising, popup ads created an environment where users grew accustomed to being monitored online. Today, advertising has shifted from intrusive popup windows to sophisticated data collection methods, influencing how users perceive and accept surveillance. Zuckerman's apology for his creation humorously underscores a societal evolution where the public is less outraged by invasive practices, as they have become normalized. His theory posits that the initial acceptance of unobtrusive ad models has led to a more insidious acceptance of surveillance, ultimately reshaping the landscape of internet privacy and consent.