“Scroogling” isn’t quite over yet.
Contrary to earlier reports today that Microsoft ended its “Scroogled” ad campaign against Google, the Redmond software giant just came out with a statement saying that it is far from over.
Here’s what a Microsoft spokesperson had to say:
“Scroogled will go on as long as Google keeps Scroogling people. We know Google doesn’t like it when the facts come out. Chapter two of the consumer education campaign has shown people care about their privacy. More than 3.5 million people visited scroogled.com, and nearly 115,000 people signed a petition asking Google to stop going through their Gmail. Stay tuned for the next chapter.”
In terms of what Microsoft’s Director of Search Stefan Weitz meant when he told California’s KQED that the company’s “Scroogled” campaign was “about finished,” here’s how Microsoft clarified that:
He was specifically referring to the ad portion of this phase, which has finished its scheduled run, but the Scroogled Website and the petition remain active, and the important conversation about privacy continues, and so does this important consumer choice.
That means you won’t be seeing many more ads like these:
Back in November, Microsoft first attacked Google’s new shopping advertising model and they even created a new word and website to prove it.
Then early last month, Microsoft re-launched the Scroogled assault by featuring ads highlighting the fact that the search giant uses the contents of Gmail messages to deliver ads. That caused Todd Bishop to write how the ads felt a lot like those endless election campaigns full of not-quite-complete information designed to motivate us based on our fears.
So, there’s that. Long live Scroogling.
Previously on GeekWire: Microsoft’s new Scroogled ads: Aren’t we smarter than this?
