The White House has proposed ab online privacy “BILL OF RIGHTS” that could eventually give the government a greater power to police Internet firms. Coupled with the Administration’s proposal was an announcement by ad networks associated with Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft agreeing to act on “do not track” technology for web browsers.
The new scheme will enable companies to continue to collect profiling data on users and merely prevent the delivery of targeted ads. These efforts could derail the Worldwide Web Consortium standards group’s efforts to develop a more effective safeguard that would allow consumers to completely cut-off collection of their personal information.
President Obama said “As the Internet evolves, consumer trust is essential for the continued growth of the digital economy. That’s why an online BILL OF RIGHTS is so important.”
While companies can voluntarily choose whether to adopt these principles, that that do commit can face enforcement action for straying. Google and Facebook have been accused of quietly tracking their customers’ online activities and then using that data to generate advertising revenue.
My guess is that these companies will pay public lip service to adopting the BILL OF RIGHTS and then go about business as usual.
Thanks for listening
Howard
The Neu Facebook
