'Do Not Track List' requested of FTC

CONSUMER GROUPS on Tuesday asked the US Federal Trade Commission to establish a national "Do Not Track List" that would enable Internet wibblers to prohibit advertisers from building profiles of their online activities.

The list would work somewhat like the FTC's "Do Not Call List" that US citizens can join in order to prevent nearly all telemarketing calls to their home phones.

The action by the Consumers Union and the Consumers Federation of America supported statements filed with the FTC by other privacy advocates opposed to Internet companies tracking web users' online searches and websites visited in order to target "behavioural advertising" that's tailored to individual interests.

The groups also requested the FTC to prevent online companies from collecting sensitive personal data such as health information without individual consent.

The FTC approved Google's purchase of Internet display advertiser Doubleclick last December, rejecting concerns voiced by online privacy groups. At the time, it admonished advertisers to let consumers "opt out" of online tracking, provide "reasonable security" for any data collected, and collect sensitive personal information only with user permission.

Not at all surprisingly, advertising companies' comments that were filed with FTC revealed strong preferences for self regulation.

The consumer groups disagreed Tuesday. Chris Murray, Consumers Union senior counsel, stated "Self-policing schemes are not enough to protect consumers' privacy and offer no enforcement against improper behavior." µ

See Also
Google snaps up Doubleclick

FTC approves Google's Doubleclick deal

FTC chairwoman refuses to step down from Google investigation

FTC links to Doubleclick questioned

Google's acquisition of Doubleclick spurs privacy fears

L'Inq
Reuters