Consumer groups like the Center for Digital Democracy and World Privacy Forum have long railed against lawmakers for their inability to advance Internet privacy legislation.
But for more than a year, Rep. Rick Boucher has been talking publicly about his plans to take on the issue. After dozens of private meetings and several hearings, the day came on Tuesday, with Boucher and Republican Cliff Stearns unveiling draft language of a bill that would set boundaries for online data collection.
So why are some of those same advocates who had been calling so loudly for legislation now saying that it would be better if there was no bill at all? eSecurity Planet takes a look.
After more than a year of hearings and meetings with a broad array of interested parties, House subcommittee leaders have unveiled draft language of a bill that would set rules for Internet marketers and other Web companies in an effort to protect consumers’ online privacy.
The draft bill sets guidelines for online companies to provide consumers with meaningful notice about what information is being collected and how it is being used and shared.
For most types of information, the bill only requires that companies provide consumers the ability to opt out of data collection, reflecting the industry concern that a rigid opt-in regime would sap the amount of information marketers have at their disposal to target ads, which in turn subsidize the bulk of the free content on the Web.