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    Obama Administration Proposes 'Consumer Bill of Rights' for Online Data

    By Todd Wasserman | Mashable – Thu, Feb 23, 2012

    In the wake of recent revelations about commercial appropriation of consumers' online data, the Obama Administration has stepped in with a "Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights" relating to online data.

    The proposal, unveiled Thursday, is designed to give consumers more control over how their personal data is used and to help businesses build trust with consumers. The White House has called on the Commerce Department to corral companies, privacy advocates and others to develop policies based on the plan. The White House also announced that Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and AOL have agreed to submit to Do Not Track technology and provide consumers with a means to control their online privacy.

    [More from Mashable: Google to Launch TV Service]

    The proposed Bill of Rights deals with six areas of online data management:

    • Transparency: Companies policies regarding security should be easily understandable to consumers.
    • Respect for Context: Consumers should expect that companies will collect, use and disclose personal data in ways that are consistent with the context in which consumers provide such data.
    • Security: Personal data should be handled securely and responsibly.
    • Access and Accuracy: Consumers should be able to access and correct personal data.
    • Focused Collection: Data collection should be held within "reasonable limits."
    • Accountability: Consumers have the right to have their personal data handled by companies and organizations that adhere to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.

    The proposal comes after Google was found to be tracking users' data via their iPhones, a revelation that came as the company was being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission over various issues, including privacy. However others, including Facebook, have also faced government scrutiny over their privacy policies. The proposal also comes after SOPA, an attempt at federal government-led enforcement of another Internet issue -- piracy. After a day of Internet protests in January, that proposal was shelved.

    [More from Mashable: Apple, Google and Other App Sellers Cut Privacy Deal with California]

    What do you think? Do we need the government to step in on this issue? Sound off in the comments.

    Image courtesy of Flickr, Tom Lohdan

    This story originally published on Mashable here.

     

    5 comments

    • Quixote
      Quixote  •  3 mths ago
      And we should just rely on companies to keep their promises and act in good faith? Only a cynical pinhead, blinded by ideology, would reject an offer of legal protection that ensures their right to privacy.
    • Chi Square
      Chi Square  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      wow, what a great job his administration is doing, not the unemployment rate is gone.
    • hx
      hx  •  3 mths ago
      Haven't the companies promised all these to entice people to use their online services? What is the fine print in this bill? I don't think a bunch of self-proclaimed smartest brains in the land would want to appear stupid for issuing law that offers no improvement from what already exists.
    • Jack
      Jack  •  Peoria, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      Although, on paper, this idea sounds great but you KNOW that big business is going to do what they want to do. Yes they will comply minimally but business IS going to continue. Think about it - we tried to bring the credit reporting agencies in line with consumers, didn't we? See how well that's worked out?
      • ulsterirish1
        ulsterirish1 3 mths ago
        Are you just now figuring out that MOST government fixes do not work.?
      • Jack
        Jack 3 mths ago
        Ulsterirsh1 - are you just now figuring out that you are an idiot?
    • Artisimo2000
      Artisimo2000  •  3 mths ago
      Where are the "rights"? It doesn't sound from that like it does much. Maybe the description is incomplete?
      • Jack
        Jack 3 mths ago
        Uhhhh, third paragraph???
        The proposed Bill of Rights deals with six areas of online data management:

        Transparency: Companies policies regarding security should be easily understandable to consumers.
        Respect for Context: Consumers should expect that companies will collect, use and disclose personal data in ways that are consistent with the context in which consumers provide such data.
        Security: Personal data should be handled securely and responsibly.
        Access and Accuracy: Consumers should be able to access and correct personal data.
        Focused Collection: Data collection should be held within "reasonable limits."
        Accountability: Consumers have the right to have their personal data handled by companies and organizations that adhere to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.
      • Artisimo2000
        Artisimo2000 3 mths ago
        What I mean is I'd like to see something stronger than that, like that said we had the right to our info unless expressly giving it away, that had some kind of redress available in case of abuse etc.
     Post a comment
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