ANA Joins Industry Comments to Department of Commerce on Self-Regulation

ANA, along with the 4A's, DMA and IAB, have submitted comments to the Department of Commerce in response to its Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking comment on the impact of privacy laws, both in the United States and internationally, on innovation in the internet economy and whether these laws are serving the consumer interest.

Our comments discuss the consumer benefits supported by online advertising, from the creation of new businesses and communication channels to free or low-cost services and products. We advise the Department to avoid making recommendations that would stifle these positive contributions to the economy.  We also note that industry is actively working to strengthen self-regulation in the online advertising area. Last year, we introduced seven principles which call for consumer education, choice, data security, and enforcement. It is our hope that industry will be given a chance to implement these changes, as both business and consumers benefit substantially from a positive online experience. We believe that self-regulation can more effectively address both consumer concerns and technological changes than government regulation. 

If you have any questions in regard to our comments, please contact Dan Jaffe in ANA's Washington office at 202.296.2359 or at djaffe@ana.net.