FTC's Proposed Changes to Web Privacy Rules Give Parents More Control Read more: http://online.wsj.

[alp227]

Source: The Wall Street Journal

The Federal Trade Commission wants to give parents more control over what information websites can collect about their children.

The FTC is proposing changes to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act that include requiring parental consent for websites to collect a broader range of information about children under age 13, including location. They also would require parental permission for a website to use tracking software, known as cookies, to build a profile about a child and monitor children's online activities for purposes such as targeting ads.

The move marks a major action by federal regulators to bolster privacy protections for Internet users.

The proposed changes, however, are likely to face stiff opposition from Internet and advertising companies, as new rules would drastically change how they currently operate. Websites currently only have to obtain parental consent when collecting personal information about children such as their name and email address.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576573021939728718.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

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Google the title to read in full.

FTC press release: "FTC Seeks Comment on Proposed Revisions to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule."

[lbrtbell]

1. Screw the internet companies

I think these laws should be in place for teens and adults, too. These companies have no business tracking people's activities online. I clear out my cookies and cache religiously, and I also delete the "new" type of cookies that end up in your Macromedia folder.

The intrusive advertising (not to mention Google analytics and Facebook "like" links make a high-speed cable internet connection feel as slow as dial-up.

[giggles]

2. Parental Discretion Needed

I do not oppose to such law. Parents ought to have that authority over their children's internet activities considering the possibilities of them learning and sharing inappropriate details in the web, especially for young kids. Children nowadays do need more parental guidance for their own safety and well-being. Those without it often become criminals and law breakers of our society. Here's a tip for parents with problematic kids. If it means to change such privacy policies to be able to decrease the possibility of our kids being at risk, so be it.