One of the United States largest cable-based ISPs had been planning to implement a program to monitor users' web surfing habits and specifically tailor adds to them. The program was to use NebuAd to track its users. Privacy advocates called the program an attack on users' privacy. Charter announced today that it was suspending the program. The announcement comes less than a week after two digital rights groups, Public Knowledge and Free Press, accused NebuAd and participating broadband ISPs of spying on users. While Charter's original focus groups reacted favorably to the program, since then many customers have raised questions and suggest improvements. Two senior members of the U.S. House of Representatives also sent a letter to Charter questioning the plan.

Charter announced in May that it was that it would be using NebuAd for the advertising program. A study by Free Press and Public Knowledge claimed NebuAd hijacked browsers, employed man-in-the-middle attacks, modified the content of TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) packets and loaded subscribers' computers with unwanted cookies. However, NebuAd denied those claims saying it allows users to opt out of its advertising at any time and used industry-standard cookies. While Charter has decided not to go ahead with the add program at this time, its statement left room for participation with NebuAd in at some point in the future.