IDG News Service - A coalition of 10 U.S. privacy and consumer groups has called for new federal privacy protections for Web users, including a requirement that Web sites and advertising networks get opt-in permission from individuals within 24 hours of collecting personal data and tracking online habits.
The groups, including the Center for Digital Democracy, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG), want the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would bar Web sites and online advertising networks from collecting sensitive data such as information about health, finances, race and sexual orientation.
In a broad set of new recommendations for privacy regulations released Tuesday, the groups also called on the U.S. Congress to prohibit Web sites and ad networks from collecting behavioral information about children under age 18, whenever it's possible to distinguish the age of the Web user, and to require that online businesses inform consumers about the purpose of the information collection.
"The basic idea is ... we want consumers to be able to take advantage of all the new technologies without having the technologies take advantage of the consumers," said Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum. "Right now, that balance is not there."
Many Web users are unaware of all the information that's being collected about them, especially by ad networks engaged in targeted or behavioral advertising, the groups said. The groups released recommendations to Congress just before lawmakers return to Washington, after August recess. Several lawmakers, particularly Representative Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat and chairman of the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, have talked about pushing for online privacy legislation late this year.
The groups recommended that consumers should be able to obtain the information collected by behavioral advertising vendors, and should be able to challenge the data held about them, the groups said.
The groups also called on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to establish an online behavioral tracking registry, similar to the national do-not-call list, through which consumers could sign up to opt out of all behavioral tracking.
Congress should also allow consumers to file lawsuits against online companies that do not follow privacy rules, and Web sites should not be able to use pretexting practices, such as running a contest that seeks the collection of consumer information in exchange for the chance to win a prize, the groups said.
The new rules are needed because consumer protections are outdated and online advertising industry efforts to self-police have fallen short, the groups said. "The technology has outpaced consumer protections," said Gail Hillebrand, a senior attorney at Consumers Union.
Last month I blogged about the partnerships you should build inside your organization. In keeping with that tone it's time we discussed expanding that partnership mentality to include some of the best technical resources you can ever get hold of, those are the ones that work in your neighboring cities, municipalities, counties, regions, townships etc. Come on folks, these people are already doing exactly the same things as you!
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