Rockefeller Urges FTC to Push Do Not Track at W3C | ANA Government Relations | ANA

Rockefeller Urges FTC to Push Do Not Track at W3C

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), the Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, sent a letter today to FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, urging the FTC’s participation in the W3C “Do Not Track” discussions.

Senator Rockefeller writes that, “to date, self-regulation for the purposes of consumer privacy protection has failed.”  He also attacks the Digital Advertising Alliance’s self-regulatory program for online behavioral advertising as “riddled with exceptions – allowing for the collection and use of personal information for ‘product development’ and ‘market research’ – that could render DNT compliance meaningless. And it is not clear if any or all member companies will honor this commitment at all.” He goes on to call the program an “ineffective regime.”

Senator Rockefeller previously introduced S. 913, the Do Not Track Online Act. He concludes his letter by stating Congress will act if the industry does not adopt “robust voluntary DNT standards.”

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