Privacy

By Reuters. January 23, 2001 1:12 PM PT

WASHINGTON--Two U.S. lawmakers unveiled legislation on Tuesday to provide some privacy protection for Internet users, adding yet another approach to what will likely be a major issue for the 107th Congress.

The bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., would require Web sites to notify visitors how personal data such as telephone numbers and ZIP codes are used, and allow visitors to limit its use.

"Consumers shouldn't have to reveal their life story every time they surf the Web,'' Eshoo said in a press release.

The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on Saturday. It mirrors legislation introduced in the Senate last year by Arizona Republican John McCain and Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry.

Separate bills have already been introduced in the House by New Jersey congressmen Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican, and Rush Holt, a Democrat.

Many commercial Web sites regard information collected from customers and visitors as a source of revenue. When retailer Toysmart.com sought to sell its customer database as part of bankruptcy proceedings last summer, it quickly attracted the ire of consumer groups and the Federal Trade Commission. The sale was eventually blocked by the FTC.

Observers and legislators agree that Congress will probably pass an Internet privacy bill this year. The question is what sort of bill will emerge: one that sets minimal guidelines and encourages the industry to police itself, or one that provides stronger federal protections for consumers.

Opt in or opt out

Web surfers would be allowed to opt out of any data collection attempts and would be able to find out what data is collected and with whom it is shared.

The bill closely reflects the views of Internet companies who say such data allows them to target products, services and advertising to individual customers.

Consumer advocates say Web sites should not use visitors' data unless they are given explicit permission, or what is known as an "opt-in'' model.

Andrew Shen, a policy analyst at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said Web sites should be prohibited from collecting unnecessary information, and consumers should be able to sue Web sites that violate their privacy, provisions not included in the Cannon-Eshoo bill.

While some Internet trade groups oppose new privacy laws, others have recognized that government involvement is inevitable. The American Electronics Association released a set of guidelines last week calling for legislation similar to that introduced by Cannon and Eshoo.

Cannon spokesman Jeff Hartley said the McCain-Kerry bill was drafted with input from high-tech companies Hewlett-Packard and Intel.

Hartley said the bill would serve as a starting point for discussion, and any legislation that reached the House floor would likely look substantially different.

"We don't see the legislation we have as the ending point--we want all interested parties to weigh in on this,'' Hartley said.

The bill will be taken up by the two House committees on which the co-sponsors sit, Hartley said. Cannon will oversee its progress through the Judiciary committee, while Eshoo will keep track of it in the Commerce committee, he said.