“A group of big-name retailers, including Microsoft, Apple and Netflix, are in the spotlight after reports surfaced that a portion of the commission they pay to an Internet marketer is being funneled to groups that oppose homosexuality,” Aislyn Greene reports for TechFlash.
“The marketer, Charity Giveback Group (CCBG) and formerly known as the Christian Values Network, gets a commission for each customer it sends to an e-commerce site. It’s a common practice for many sites, but in this case CCBG donates a portion of the commission to a Christian charity of the customer’s choice, reports the New York Times,” Greene reports. “Such charities include the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, both of which vocally oppose homosexuality.”
Greene reports, “As a result of the uproar, which was tipped off by a gay Seattle man in July, more than 100 retailers, including Microsoft and Expedia, have dropped out of the program. But some that dropped out briefly — Delta, PetSmart, Sam’s Club, Target and Wal-Mart — have rejoined. ‘People have been misled. The retailers are not donating to anyone; they are simply paying a commission to get traffic,’ said CGBG president John Higgins in an interview.”
Read more in the full article here.
