Internet Privacy: An Industry Evolution

Yesterday...

Several large technology companies, including Google Inc. and eBay Inc., announced support yesterday for stronger federal regulations to protect consumer privacy on the Internet.

Twelve companies formed an advocacy group, the Consumer Privacy Legislative Forum, to lobby for greater protection of private information, and several members testified yesterday before a House subcommittee.  (Washington Post)

Thoughts (after the jump):

• Despite Monday-morning quarterbacking on the Net Neutrality fight, this privacy group reminds that the industy is now emminently capable of good, smart proactive collaboration that solves problems -- instead of waiting for the proverbial stuff to hit the fan.  You couldn't say this not so long ago.
• To the consternation of many others (some of who signed on to this effort) HP had been out there on this issue back on 2000 -- when Carly Fiorina gave a controversial speech at the PFF Aspen Summit.  Intel agreed.  And, the Center for Democracy and Technology played a big role in keeping the flame ablaze.  Some reaction at the time from Declan McCullagh's Politech list.
• Microsoft may have turned the tide when they actively moved from the self-regulation to the pro-legislation camp last year.  Microsoft head lawyer Brad Smith gave a speech calling for this bill last November at an Internet Caucus event. 
• It's notable to see Eastman Kodak, Eli Lilly and Procter & Gamble involved.  Just because they aren't tech companies doesn't mean that tech policy doesn't impact them.  Tech policy will be a subset of many big companies govt. affairs efforts very soon.
• From the Chronicle story:  "Meg Whitman, chief executive of eBay, the online marketplace in San Jose, described existing privacy laws as a crazy quilt of state and federal regulation that should be replaced by unified rules to reduce business costs."  --- We've worked on lots of uniform standards efforts, and every single one of them references this crazy quilt.  We wondered why it's never a wacky afghan or a silly blanket.  Then we learned that there is an actual "crazy quilting" practice that is well celebrated on the Internet.  Just when you think you're getting kind of smart, the Internet reminds you that you are clueless.

(Flickr photo credit)

Comments

[pandora nz]

This is a good subject to talk about. Sometimes I fav stuff like this on Redit. This article probably won’t do well with that crowd. I will be sure to submit something else though.

[burberry]

http://463.blogs.com/the_463/2006/12/vloggers_candid.html

[Sofia]

I like this year! Oh course I miss last year, but this year is tunnrig out good! I was a good surprise when I found out Mrs. Marchin would be here because I have her in 3rd and 4th grade E.L., so there was someone I knew along with East Antioch kids and Nikki from my school.