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Feb 11, 2000. ZDnet reports that U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-N.J.) announced plans to introduce a bill, called Internet Privacy Act, which would require firms to use an opt-in approach, rather than an opt-out approach to collecting and selling consumer data. Currently, most companies like Doubleclick or Amazon use an opt-out approach.

DoubleClick Inc. (Nasdaq:DCLK) was recently sued by Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), who claimed that Doubleclick uses and illegally collects and sells personal data. The complaint was related to DoubleClick's $1.7 billion purchase last fall of direct marketing company Abacus and DoubleClick's plans to cross-reference its records of consumers' online habits with a Abacus database that includes names and other identifying data.

Amazon.com Inc.'s (Nasdaq:AMZN) Alexa Internet division was also sued by consumers claiming it violates their privacy. The Federal Trade Commission has taken a look at Amazon, the company disclosed this week.

See full article at http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2436112,00.html

In related news, FTC announced probe against Doubleclick on Feb 18, 2000.

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