Internet Privacy Bill Would Control 'Cookies'
Dateline: 02/11/2000
Senator Robert Torricelli (D - New Jersey) on Thursday (02/10/2000) introduced the first Internet privacy bill intended to limit the use of "cookie" files.
"Cookies" are small data files of information sent to and stored on your PC's hard disk by Web site servers. The cookie file is stored on your PC the first time you visit the Web site. When you return, the Web site's server accesses the cookie file it sent to your PC and sets itself up accordingly. For example, when a Web site asks you for a user name and password, and you click the "Remember my password" button, that's a cookie. Web sites that let you setup customized "start-up" pages use cookies to do that for you. In this use, cookies greatly enhance the convenience of using the Web.
But, cookies can also be used by Web advertisers to keep a log of which Web sites users visit, and doing so, according to Senator Torricelli, is an invasion of privacy.
"People have the same right to privacy on the Internet that they have wandering from store to store," said Torricelli. "I think people would be surprised to if they found someone following them from (Web) address to address."
Senator Torricelli's new bill, S. 2063 "to amend title 18, United States code, to provide for the applicability to operators of Internet Web sites of restrictions on the disclosure or records and other information relating to the use of such sites, and for other purposes" would limit how Internet advertisers, Web site operators, and other online services could utilize cookie file information.
A major opponent of S. 2063 is the Internet advertising company, DoubleClick Inc., which issued a statement yesterday saying, in part, "Effective Internet advertising is essential to keeping the Internet free... We look forward to working to continuing to work with Washington to give (Internet) users clear notice and real choices to opt out if they do not wish to receive the personalized benefits of the Internet."
In a related event, The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday (2/10/2000) against DoubleClick Inc.'s recently announced practice of tying Web users' real names and addresses to Internet cookie files.
According to DoubleClick, the names and addresses are only used to target ads to specific households and that use of the technology is extremely limited. The company has also stated that it will not associate personal information with individuals or data collected from children.
EPIC's FTC complaint alleges that DoubleClick's Web tracking technology violates fair business practice statutes and asks that DoubleClick be ordered to destroy all collected consumers' records and take steps to ensure consumers they will remain anonymous.
S. 2063 promises to be a controversial bill. To keep up with the bill's progress,
see...
Internet-related Current Legislation
Reference Resources
The Cookie FAQ
Questions and Answers about cookies from CookieCentral.comWhat Are Internet Cookies?
CookieCentral offers a simple, yet detailed explanation of how cookies work and how they are used be Web sites.Electronic Privacy Information Center - Press Release
EPIC's official press release on its FTC complaint against DoubleClick, Inc.DoubleClick, Inc. -- Privacy Statement
The Internet advertising company's policy on protecting the identity of Web users.
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