Matt 2
Technology
White House pushes online privacy bill of rights David Goldman
CNN February 23
(551/2)
Main Idea:
Technology
White House pushes online privacy bill of rights David Goldman
CNN February 23
(551/2)
Main Idea:
The White House is pushing for a new bit of legislation regarding the internet. This new bill focuses on protecting personal information given to corporations when people sign up for their services. Previously, corporations used a Do Not Track option for people to opt out of having their personal information stored. However, people said that this process was 'long and complicated.' This action taken by the U.S. Government is in response to an increase of online fraud and customer confusion to how and how often they are being tracked. The framework of this bill is very basic, and also carries little water, containing little phrases like, "Companies should offer consumers clear and simple choices, presented in times and ways that enable consumers to make meaningful decisions." Corporations are anticipated to sign up for this bill under 'good faith,' because they would want to protect their customers and ensure that their personal information remained protected. Those who are under this bill are then punishable by the FTC for any violation.
Conclusion:
The White House is trying to pass a bill that forces corporations to offer people a clear choice whether they want their personal information stored. There has been an increase of fraud and confusion regarding the internet, so the government is seeking to make it very black and white when people sign up for services. However, corporations not are obligated to sign up for this, so the bill isn't very strong at all.
The government should take a stronger stand to regulate the actions of corporations to protect consumers because no-one else will. The storing of personal information by companies makes it much simpler for identity thieves to access people's personal information. This bill is a step in the right direction, though its language is very broad ( "clear, simple choices presented in...ways that enable consumers to make meaningful decisions"). The U.S. government needs to go beyond such vague phrases and spell out a code of regulations for companies, so the public can be sure that corporations are not infringing on their privacy rights.
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