Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Kerry and McCain propose a law on privacy online

Two of the most influential U.S. senators, former presidential candidates John Kerry and John McCain have introduced a bill Tuesday to create a charter of rights to privacy of Internet users. "Protecting personal and private information of Americans is vital for the information age makes all its promises," said Democrat John Kerry, who ran for president in 2004.

The text requires companies collecting data on the Internet offer them a way to escape this surveillance. It also plans to require companies to offer users a clear mechanism that allows them to withhold their personal data being used. "Americans have the right to decide how their information is collected, used and distributed, and businesses deserve (to run) with the certainty qu'apportent clear rules," said Kerry, chairman of the Senate Committee responsible for legislate on the Internet.

"Our bill (...) allows companies to continue marketing and publicity for all consumers," said McCain, Barack Obama's Republican opponent in 2008. "But our text does not allow the collection or disclosure of data by companies with no connection other than advertising to consumers," he added.

Associations working on this topic have had mixed reactions. A collective of the Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Action, Consumer Watchdog, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Privacy Times and demanded that the text be "significantly strengthened". "We can not support the text as is," argued the associations, which require that additional powers are granted control to the Federal Trade Commission's privacy, and refuse what they consider an amnesty for unfair practices that have occurred so far.

Last month the U.S. government had asked Congress to pass a "charter right to privacy" of the Internet, opposite "Growing consumer unease.

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