Sen. McCain Introduces Privacy Bill

Manjit writes: "An article on Yahoo! reports that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has introduced an Internet Privacy Bill which would require Web sites to disclose how personal information will be used. I'm not really much for government regulation but I think that the privacy problems will not be resolved without laws forcing businesses to safeguard personal data. My favorite quote from the article: 'The bill would enable consumers to sue Web sites who violate the bill's agreements to sue for up to $22,000.' This would be great! The best way to get businesses to follow the rules is to hit their bottom line if they don't."

The actual bill text isn't available online yet (I think it'll show up here), so I'd be remiss to start evaluating it. I also don't see anything yet at EPIC.

Keep in mind that McCain is the same senator who in January 1999 introduced a bill to withhold e-rate funds from schools and libraries who did not install censorware. That bill's stalled, but he introduced an amendment last month with the same idea. The government giveth with one hand and taketh away with t'other.

Comments

They don't get it.

[Vladinator]

I think this mainly shows how politicians just don't get it still. They think of the net in terms of it only being American. They are dead wrong and foolish, as usual. More importantly, our government has what I like to call the Anti-Midas touch - what ever they put thier hands on, turns to shit. This will be no different.

Trusting Politicians +

[Nehemiah S.]

Reading Jamie's link, I can't help ROFLMAO. Only in Washington would a man be able to introduce a bill with the designation "S.97" that goes by the Short Title of "Children's Internet Protection Act".*

I trust McCain et. al in exactly the same way I trust a hungry wild dog: I won't shoot him as long as he's keeping the rats away, but when he starts offering to babysit I get uncomfortable. There are some things I just don't need his help with.

Although I like the idea of being able to sue people who misuse my personal information, I wouldn't be surprised if the title of this bill is misleading. McCain is good enough to get away with fooling most of the people most of the time. For instance, the much publicized Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, which the general populace accepted as panacea, does absolutely nothing to reform campaign finance except allow larger PAC contributions and allow employees to opt out of labor union contributions they don't agree with. And does anyone -really- believe children are protected by censorship?

Calling this bill a Privacy Bill is falling into the exact same trap. It will not create any true standards of privacy. Instead, it will create the illusion of privacy, where non-US web sites can still use your information however they want and US web sites need only say "We sell your info to the highest bidder(s)" in blinking size 3 Tacoma font at the bottom of the page. Beneath the TrustE logo.

Rev Neh

*Yes, I know the real "long" titleof S.97.