Business Group Calls For Privacy Law
June 25, 2006
Twelve large U.S. corporations urged Congress to pass a comprehensive consumer-privacy law. The companies cited ing rising consumer concerns that Internet safety is eroding.
Google, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, eBay, Eli Lilly & Co., Procter & Gamble, etc, say they want “a simplified, uniform but flexible legal framework” that supports “the free flow of information and commerce, while providing protection for consumers from increasing incidents of identify theft, fraud and intrusions of privacy.”
The group issued a statement as members of the newly formed Consumer Privacy Legislative Forum at a U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on federal privacy legislation.
Members of the group stressed that the growing number of state privacy and industry specific laws that govern data privacy and security around the web are cumbersome and rising consumer concerns.
“Legislation should provide protection for consumers from inappropriate collection and misuse of their personal information and also enable legitimate businesses to use information to promote economic and social value.”, say the group statement.
Members of U.S. Congress supported the notion of comprehensive legislation.
The Forum said it is concerned that declining consumer trust in the Internet threatens economic growth and innovation online. It cited a nationwide survey by the Cyber Security Industry Alliance released in May showing 94% of respondents consider identity theft a serious problem and only 24% feel businesses are placing the right emphasis on protecting their information.
Web Hosts Might Be Forced To Snoop Customers’ Activities
April 30, 2006
US goverment would go after the EU by implementing a policy that force Internet service providers to retain records of their customers activities. The idea of snooping the internet surfers activity gained traction in the U.S. Congress, last week when Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (R), gave a speech saying that data retention by Internet service providers is an “issue that must be addressed.”
CNet’s web site News.com reported Gonzales warned child pornography investigations have been “hampered” because data might be routinely deleted. Democratic party members propose similiar actions and preparing to introduce an amendment that would make such data deletion illegal. Congressmen from both parties said any Internet service that “enables users to access content” must permanently retain records that would permit police to identify users.
The records could not be discarded until at least one year after the customer’s account was closed. It’s not clear at this time whether that requirement would be limited to e-mail providers and ISP’s only or it would make web hosting companies to keep data about e-mail correspondence sent and received from their servers.
An expansive reading of Colorado Republican Diana DeGette’s proposal would require every website owner to retain those records. Any details related to new bill’s enforcement would be left to the Federal Communications Commission.
