From the ashes of COAST

A new coalition of antispyware companies, called the Anti-Spyware Coalition, has formed, and I think it has a decent chance of success. It won't suffer the fate of COAST because it's not going to admit adware makers as members, limiting groups that can be members to antispyware companies, consumer watchdogs, and ISPs. Further, the Center for Democracy and Technology has taken a lead in helping create it. I've talked with Ari Schwartz, an Associate Director at the CDT, and he's completely credible when it comes to battling spyware. He doesn't give adware companies a break because they make a good presentation, instead judging them on their merits.

This newly formed group's first task is to define spyware, something everyone agrees must be done but nobody thinks will be easy. Although I think the Coalition is doing the right thing by keeping its membership clean, defining spyware is something else, and could potentially be the group's downfall. Hopefully the members will be able to put their heads together and differences aside.