FTC Resources for Reporters
The Do Not Track Option: Giving Consumers a Choice
Among the recommendations in the FTC’s 2010 preliminary staff report is a proposal that consumers be given a simple “Do Not Track” mechanism that would allow them to choose whether they want to allow websites to collect information about their Internet activity and use it to deliver targeted advertisements and for other purposes. The report recommends a mechanism that would be practical, and would probably involve the placement of a persistent setting, similar to a cookie, on the consumer’s browser signaling the consumer’s choices. Unlike the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry, which allows consumers to opt out of receiving most telemarketing calls, the Do Not Track mechanism would not require the government to compile a list of numbers. The Commission has not voted yet on whether to support this idea, and it is still considering public comments on the report.
News Releases:
- FTC Testifies on Efforts to Protect Consumer Privacy – 5/09/2012
- FTC Testifies on Do Not Track Legislation – 12/02/2010
- FTC Staff Issues Privacy Report, Offers Framework for Consumers, Businesses, and Policymakers – 12/01/2010
Twitter Questions and Answers:
Reports and Workshops:
- A Preliminary FTC Staff Report on Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: A Proposed Framework for Businesses and Policymakers
- Exploring Privacy, a Roundtable Series
Congressional Testimony:
- Testimony on the State of Online Consumer Privacy before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – March 16, 2011
- Testimony before Testimony on Do Not Track the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection – Dec. 2, 2010
Statements:
- Statement by Chairman Leibowitz regarding Microsoft – Dec. 7, 2010
“Microsoft deserves enormous credit for taking a critical step toward providing consumers with more choice about who can track their online browsing. An option for consumers to limit which sites can track them provides a choice they deserve to have. Just as important, this announcement proves that technology is available to let consumers control tracking. Now others in both the browser and advertising communities need to step up and develop technologies including implementing a Do-Not-Track option." - Statement by Chairman Leibowitz Regarding Mozilla – Jan. 24, 2010
From Chairman Leibowitz: “Mozilla’s initiative is to be commended. It recognizes that consumers want a choice about who is tracking their movements online, and it’s a first step toward giving consumers choice about who will have access to their data. It also signals that Do Not Track options are technically feasible.”
