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US data-collection bill gets chilly reception |
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Source: The Register UK - Posted by Anthony Pell
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A proposed US congressional bill to regulate the collection of personal data is being almost universally panned, with privacy advocates arguing it's inadequate and pro-business groups saying it goes too far.
The draft legislation (PDF) would for the first time impose national standards on how companies collect IP addresses, viewer history, and other potentially sensitive data from individuals. It would apply to websites and offline operations as well.
In its current form, it would apply to any business or non-profit organization that collects personal information from at least 5,000 individuals in a given year. In a nod to privacy advocates, groups would be required to get individuals' consent before storing names, email addresses, and other data. But acquiring that consent could be as simple as adding a statement to a website, a policy that's anathema to many civil-liberties boosters because it's viewed as opt-out rather than opt-in.
Some privacy advocates also worry that the half-hearted restrictions will preempt many state laws that do a much better job of controlling the collection of personal data.
Business and advertising groups, meanwhile, are fretting that the language is unduly broad and could hamper their ability to employ targeted advertising on websites.
Read this full article at The Register UK
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