06 Aug 2009
Microsoft's online advertising platform has been found wanting just days after inking a lucrative search and advertising deal with Yahoo, after a new report claimed that rogue internet pharmacies are advertising on its Bing search site.
The No Prescription Required report (PDF), released by anti-spam company KnujOn and online verification firm LegitScript, said that nearly 90 per cent of the sponsored pharmaceutical adverts found on Bing "led to 'rogue' internet pharmacies that do not require a prescription for prescription drugs, or are otherwise acting unlawfully or fraudulently".
The report also alleged that some of the adverts appeared to be for a legitimate US-based internet pharmacy, but clicked through to a different, illegal pharmacy site.
Some of these rogue online pharmacies are actually fronts for Russian organised crime gangs, according to KnujOn and LegitScript.
The authors said that they intend to release similar studies naming and shaming "US-based corporations that facilitate, and/or profit from, 'rogue' internet pharmacies".
A Microsoft spokesperson said the firm is "currently investigating the issue ".
"Microsoft’s guidelines clearly require online pharmacies who advertise on Bing to adhere to US laws," the spokesperson added.
Latest stories from Web
Related articles
Related jobs
Poll
What is the most important IT priority for your company this year?
EU data protection overhaul contains "bureaucratic tick box-proposals", says information commissioner Christopher Graham in exclusive interview with V3
Connect with V3.co.uk
This paper focuses on a series of best practices and techniques for development teams looking to improve their software development processes
Why good data management at all levels is essential in the modern business (video, 6mins)
Web C# ASP.NET Developer (Equity or Mutual Funds) London...
Senior Exploratory Tester - Selenium, Java, AJAX, WEB...
SQL DBA/ Data Architect (T-SQL, SSIS, ETL) - Derivatives...
Test Analyst (Web, QTP, Test Director, VB.NET, SQL...
Keep up to date with the latest products, services and technologies from the world's leading IT companies. IThound.com brings you over 2,000 white papers, case studies and analyst reports.
Do you agree?
So Bing are just following Google's practices then!
You'll regularly find 'Rogue Pharmacies' within Sponsored Links on Google, when searching for terms such as Viagra, Valium etc This has been the case since Sponsored Links were launched in 2002/2003.
Posted by: William D 08 Aug 2009