F.T.C. Backs Plan to Honor Privacy of Online Users
New York Times (12/01/10) Edward Wyatt; Tanzina Vega
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a broad framework for the commercial use of Web data and announced its support of a plan that would enable consumers to choose if they want their Internet browsing activity monitored. The framework features a simple "do not track" designation similar to the national "do not call" registry. If the FTC recommendations are widely accepted, online advertising and technology companies could be forced to change their methods of collecting specific information about consumers. The FTC will likely need support from Congress in order to enact many of its recommendations. However, pending Congressional action, the FTC plans to create a system called "privacy by design," which will require companies to build protections into their business practices. "We'd like to see companies work a lot faster to make consumer choice easier," says FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz. "Our main concern is the sites and services that are connecting the dots between different times and places that a consumer is online and building a profile of what a consumer is doing." The online advertising industry has generally accepted the concepts of the FTC proposal, but there is some opposition to some of the strict measures some consumer advocates prefer, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau's Mike Zaneis. The FTC is seeking industry and public comments on the recommendations and to make other suggestions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/business...
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a broad framework for the commercial use of Web data and announced its support of a plan that would enable consumers to choose if they want their Internet browsing activity monitored. The framework features a simple "do not track" designation similar to the national "do not call" registry. If the FTC recommendations are widely accepted, online advertising and technology companies could be forced to change their methods of collecting specific information about consumers. The FTC will likely need support from Congress in order to enact many of its recommendations. However, pending Congressional action, the FTC plans to create a system called "privacy by design," which will require companies to build protections into their business practices. "We'd like to see companies work a lot faster to make consumer choice easier," says FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz. "Our main concern is the sites and services that are connecting the dots between different times and places that a consumer is online and building a profile of what a consumer is doing." The online advertising industry has generally accepted the concepts of the FTC proposal, but there is some opposition to some of the strict measures some consumer advocates prefer, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau's Mike Zaneis. The FTC is seeking industry and public comments on the recommendations and to make other suggestions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/business...
