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FTC May Cast A Closer Eye On How Businesses Share Personal Data

Posted by timothy on from the you're-saying-you-didn't-read-the-even-finer-print dept.

Personal information shared by users with corporate websites is nothing new; you probably routinely log in to sites to which you've provided information about your age and location, or provided a credit card number in order to buy merchandise. At least sometimes, some of that information is shared in ways that the typical user would probably neither anticipate nor appreciate. David Vladeck, new head of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, has signaled recently that he's interested in tighter regulation of personal information shared online, even when it falls under the often-sweeping language of privacy agreements and sites' terms of use. An interview at the New York Times provides some insight into the regulatory environment that companies operating online may face in the course of the present administration — and it looks more stringent than online businesses have faced before, even while Vladeck shies away from saying that he supports "new rules."

4 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Next step... by tacarat · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Hi. We noticed that you've been buying a lot of condoms/birth control pills, lube and are not currently being treated for any STDs. Would you a like a free membership to our dating website?"

    "Hi. We noticed that your spouse has been buying a lot of condoms/birth control pills, lube and motel rooms within 25 miles of your home. Can we interest you in our "Super Slueth" private investigation package?"

    Yaddah yaddah.

    --
    "Common sense will be the death of us all"
    1. Re:Next step... by vbraga · · Score: 3, Funny

      Better

      "Hi. We noticed that your spouse has been buying a lot of condoms/birth control pills, lube and motel rooms within 25 miles of your home. Can we interest you in our "Super Slueth" private investigation package?"

      than

      "Hi. We noticed that your spouse has been buying a lot of condoms/birth control pills, lube and motel rooms within 25 miles of your home. Would you like to see our offers on firearms?"

      --
      English is not my first language. Corrections and suggestions are welcome.
  2. Best practices by kent_eh · · Score: 4, Interesting

    One place to start is to look at best practices of other governments.
    I'm un-characteristically proud of what the government of Canada did in the Privacy Act, and the creation of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

    Of course, it's not perfect, but It's pretty good. Especially compared to what I see in the rest of the world.

    --

    ---
    "I can't complain, but sometimes still do..." Joe Walsh
  3. Re:Can someone please explain by MartinSchou · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Wouldn't it be fun if that's how they taught you a new language in schools?

    Hand you an English to Chinese dictionary (but without phonetics) and then punch you in the face whenever you made a mistake?