Nah - it’s fine. OF COURSE the ad is driven by self-interest. You were expecting something else? To appreciate it, though, you have to step back and take the observer’s position:
Full page NYT ads are a fairly traditional means of yelling something from the rooftops.
(They’re mad as hell, and they aren’t gonna take it any more.)
The mainstream media focuses on whatever other mainstream media dictates, i.e., NYT.
They just got more media attention placed on the feds’ antics in a negative way.
The ‘Tech Giants’ just told their advertisers they are on their side.
Cool - keep making money, long as you keep spending it on anti-colonic efforts.
The Tech Giants just told Aunt Edna the NSA is ‘not so nice’.
She won’t believe you, and has no idea who half those guys are, and she doesn’t understand what they’re talking about, but if AOL says so?! She’s gonna be checking behind the shower curtain every time she goes potty.
Downside -
No catchy phrase. It didn’t have to be "The Heartland hates anal’, but c’mon, Giants. That’s what yu have ginormous advertising departments for, yes?
No cool logo. No cthulu-on-planet meme? 'Sup with that?
If Goog really cared, theyd be using their own advertising engine to deliver the message to browsers everywhere. (And giving away free 23andme test kits.)
