IAB Hobnobs at the Republican Convention

Tampa, FL – The Interactive Advertising Bureau is here at the Republican National Convention. But don’t expect Sarah Hudgins to advocate for the online ad industry’s self-regulatory approach to privacy while meeting with GOP legislators here.

The convention is less about pushing issues and “more about visibility and networking,” said Hudgins, the IAB’s director of public policy, chatting with ClickZ at Innovation Nation, a party held outside the main convention, honoring the House Republican Whip team.

“Our giving lines up with those in Congress who have a great understanding of the industry,” said Hudgins, who deals mainly with federal legislators, rules, and regulations.

But these relationships can be nuanced. For instance, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts – whose 2004 presidential campaign Hudgins volunteered for in her younger years – is a co-sponsor of the Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011, one of many privacy bills the IAB and other ad industry groups believe could have a negative impact on the online ad industry.

“Despite [the privacy bill] he’s very friendly toward the tech sector,” she said. “We’ll continue to work on finding the right solutions” and talking with him on the Do Not Track bill, she added.