Federal agencies will have to demonstrate a ``compelling need'' to gather the data, publicly disclose how any collected personal information would be safeguarded and get the authorization of the agency head. For example, using a cookie on a State Department Web . . .
Federal agencies will have to demonstrate a ``compelling need'' to gather the data, publicly disclose how any collected personal information would be safeguarded and get the authorization of the agency head. For example, using a cookie on a State Department Web site would require the approval of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

A day after the White House ordered its drug policy office to stop tracking Web users through anti-drug advertising, the Clinton administration issued strict new rules regulating federal use of the Internet technology, which can surreptitiously collect personal information.

The Office of Management and Budget on Thursday directed all agencies to review immediately their compliance with existing Web privacy policies. Additionally, agencies will have to submit descriptions of how they handle Internet privacy issues with their budget requests this fall.

The memo from White House budget chief Jack Lew also expanded the rules concerning ``cookies,'' small software files often placed on computers without a person's knowledge that can track their movement on the Web. The Office of National Drug Control Policy had been using these files through advertising sold by an Internet ad company.