Last week, the Federal Trade Commission revisited the issue of Internet privacy, suggesting a “Do Not Track” law that would allow users to opt out of being tracked as they surfed the web. The proposal is being touted as the Internet equivalent of the telephone “Do Not Call” list.
Law or no law, Microsoft has decided to include the “Do Not Track” option into its next browser. Users who activate this option will be able to surf the internet without picking up cookies–small files internet sites use to track information online.
But is Microsoft just throwing a bone to the FTC to pre-empt regulation? According to a report on NPR, Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy thinks so. “Microsoft hopes that by allowing users to have some kind of greater control over who can collect consumer data that congress won’t legislate and the federal trade commission won’t regulate,” Chester says.
What do you think? Do you think regulating the internet in this manner works the same way as regulating the phones? Are “Do Not Track” and “Do Not Call” at all similar, or are they apples and oranges?
How do you think “Do Not Track” regulation, if passed, would affect companies like Google and Yahoo, who make millions as a result of tracking online activity?
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