Mimicking the "do not call" laws passed to stop over-aggressive soliciting by telemarketers, lawmakers on Friday indicated they plan to introduce two "do not track" privacy bills to enable people to block companies from following their activity on the internet.
The "do not track" rule push, first recommended by the Federal Trade Commission, reflects an increasing focus on passing first-time privacy for all internet users.
In the House, Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass. and Joe Barton, R-Texas issued a draft House bill with bipartisan support that would prohibit companies from tracking children on the internet without parental consent and require an "eraser button" that would allow parents to eliminate kids' personal information already online. Companies would have to get parental consent to collect location information from children 12 and younger. Teens would have to expressly agree to location collection.
It also specifies that the privacy rules would apply to mobile phone apps, an area unregulated by the government.
"We have reached a troubling point in the state of business when companies that conduct business online are so eager to make a buck, they resort to targeting our children," Mr. Barton said in a statement issued on Friday. "I strongly believe that information should not be collected on children and used for commercial purposes."
Meanwhile, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. said he would introduce a bill covering all internet users, making it illegal for websites and marketers to track anyone who had opted out of data collection. The measure would also require companies to destroy user information or make it anonymous once it is no longer useful. The FTC would be in charge of enforcement. He also plans to conduct a hearing about mobile privacy later this month.
"Consumers have a right to know when and how their personal and sensitive information is being used online," said Mr. Rockefeller, in a statement.
Opposing such bills, web firms have argued that online tracking helps deliver targeted advertising that pays for free web content and services. They also note that that tools can be created to help users manage tracking. Microsoft and Mozilla have come up with browser-based privacy controls without government mandates.
"I've asked for a waiver of Senate ethics rules so I can give Sen. Rockefeller a gift he really needs -- an iPad," Steve DelBianco, executive director of NetChoice, a trade group that represents web firms including AOL, eBay and Expedia, said to the Washington Post. "The senator can see for himself how interest tracking lets advertisers pay for all those free apps and web services that regular Americans love to use."
- Congress scrambling to draft 'do not track' laws - Washington Post/sfgate.com
- House Releases 'Do Not Track' Bill - The Wall Street Journal
- Senator Says He Will Introduce Do-not-track Bill - PC World
- Internet privacy: Lawmakers offer new proposals allowing consumers to stop online tracking - The Los Angeles Times