Internet Privacy Changes Ahead

There’s a new Sheriff in town, and there are going to be some changes made. Just thought I’d let you know in case you want to get the hell out of Dodge.

In this case, the new Sheriff is Davi Vladeck, the new heard of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, part of the Federal Trade Commission. He wants to change the Internet policy of consumers having to give up so much of their private information in order to access web sites.

Plans To Change Data Gathering

In a recent news conference, Mr. Vladeck disclosed his plans that will upset the whole apple cart of Internet advertising. All that personal info you fill in web forms with is used by the site owner to sell advertising on their sites. It’s gold for site owners, or can be. According to Mr. Vladeck, privacy policies have become useless.

Privacy Policies

Duh! I could have told him that, and I’m not just talking about Internet invasion of privacy. Hard copy privacy policies that are mailed from businesses that have your info to you are as useless as, well, let me paraphrase my husband who is a Texan through and through: “As useless as mammary glands on a boar hog.” (It doesn’t take a big leap of imagination to know the word my husband uses.)

Anyway, to prove my point about the uselessness of a privacy policy, just try opting out according to the instructions printed on any privacy policy you receive. Or just read Privacy Notice to find out my husband’s experience with trying to opt out.

Action Taken

This past June, the FTC settled a suit with Sears over privacy policies. If one is keeping score, then one could presume that the FTC “won.” Now, Mr. Vladek has asked for a bigger budget and a better way to create new regulations. He’s also going to hire Internet tekkies to analyze the tracking that online marketers use.

The new Sheriff has already ripped apart the principles of self-regulation proposed by special interest groups, and he’s met with several companies to discuss their online advertising guidelines.

Takeaway Truth

Get ready. Change is in the air. I hope something good will come of it from well-meaning inception to reality.

Tags: consumer_protection, ftc, internet_business, privacy_issues, privacy_notice