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The Obama administration is pushing for the creation of a new 'Privacy Policy Office,' which would be charged with the task of putting together an online "privacy bill of rights" for all Americans. The proposals were outlined in a report from the Department of Commerce, which called for the development of a new "framework" to protect consumers from data-gathering, third-party companies. The Department added that such a framework could add some much-needed clarity to U.S. privacy laws, which currently cover some types of data, but not others. The report also took issue with the privacy policies posted on many websites. Such policies, officials argued, are often drenched in legal jargon that consumers shouldn't be expected to understand. Instead, the agency recommended that companies conduct privacy impact assessments, and make them available for public view. These assessments, the report suggested, "could create consumer awareness of privacy risks in a new technological context."
The Commerce Department went on to argue that Web surfers should be notified whenever their personal information is being harvested in unexpected ways, because they have a right to know "that when their data are re-used, the re-use will not cause them harm or unwarranted surprise." The proposed Privacy Policy Office, meanwhile, would "serve as a center of commercial data privacy policy expertise," and would help companies develop codes of conduct that the FTC would enforce.
The 88-page report is expected to be completed next year. When the Department of Commerce wraps it up, the Obama administration will make more specific legislative recommendations based on its findings. Nevertheless, it's an important first step that may mark the beginning of a new era in Internet legislation. Until recently, Uncle Sam has been reluctant to intervene with the digital world, for fear that government regulation may hurt innovation. Now, however, it's clear that the government feels compelled to step in on behalf of consumers. And, considering how drastically online data-sharing has changed in recent years, it's certainly a welcome intervention.
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Comments
2
Subscribe to commentsAdmiral DingleberryDec 16th 2010 2:10PM
A Welcome intervention? Are you kidding?
Your hyper-liberal bias is clouding your thinking. If you think it will stop there you are a fool or an idiot.
Oh, I forgot. You've proven time and time again you're both.
twofirst1Dec 21st 2010 1:02PM
This is a good thing that should be protected.from unreasonable warrantless searches...I also think that the president should get together with the United Nations and get specific countries from the US and Mexico and Guatemale , elsalvador, Honduras, Peru, Nicaragua, to put together a convoy of Armored Personell carriers Army APC's maybe 3 or 4 of them to convoy with a group of soldiers from all the countries working together , watching out for each other and protecting the monthly trip all the way down to Argentina and back On the Pan American Highway.. This could be like the old days when the Americans crossed from the EAST coast to the West coast on the horse drawn wagon trains the APC's would provide international protection to all the travelors from Laredo, Texas all the way down on a monthly thing it would really boost the economy for all those other countries with all the travelors back and forth from South America to North America, I also think it would be fun for all the different countries to work together peacefully while protecting each other on thier trips...This is a good thing if the United Nations and the US Agreeto it It could make legal travel safer and help alot of people...It wouldn't cost that much either.. right now a person can travel all the way to Guatemala with out to much trouble except in Laredo and a few other places...Just stay on the Pan American Highway and stay in the convoy. The government canb search you before you leave with the convoy and search you when you return... so whats the problem...It just make the trip safer and they know that all the travelorrs are law abiding non violent people,,....If they get attacked the ASPC's open up on the 50 Calibers and cut the attackers to pieces...The governments could also provide helicopters for air surveilence and medical emergencies...This would be a great accomplishment for all the South American Nations....and the North American even Canada could join the Convoy