Dem introduces ‘Do Not Track Me Online’ privacy bill

By Sahil Kapur | Monday, February 14th, 2011

WASHINGTON – A California Democrat has introduced an online privacy measure that would allow Web users to opt-out of having their online behavior monitored by advertisers.

HR 654, The Do Not Track Me Online Act of 2011, would empower the Federal Trade Commission to write regulations ensuring that online marketing agencies refrain from tracking users who wish not to be tracked.

"Consumers have a right to determine what if any of their information is shared with big corporations and the federal government must have the authority and tools to enforce reasonable protections," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA).

"Failure to do so," read a summary from Speier's office, "would be considered an unfair or deceptive act punishable by law. The covered entity would have to disclose its collection and sharing practices, including with whom the information is shared."

Speier also introduced HR 653, the Financial Information Privacy Act of 2011, which would afford consumers greater control over personal financial information that is often collected by banks.

She called the two bills examples of upholding "privacy over profit."

According to Speier, the bills have been endorsed by the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Consumer Action, U.S. PIRG, Consumer Watchdog, World Privacy Forum, the Center for Digital Democracy, and the ACLU.

Speier referenced a recent USA Today poll which found last week that roughly 70 percent of Facebook users and over half of Google users say they're either "somewhat" or "very concerned" about their privacy.

Six House Democrats stage 'sit-in' on Senate floor

from Politico on July 28, 2010

Six House members crossed the Capitol to stage a "sit-in" in the Senate chamber to protest what they believe to be GOP obstruction of jobs legislation.

These House Democrats sat quietly in the back of the chamber and were approached by both Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois and Republican Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah, who shook the hands of the upper chamber visitors.

Democratic Reps. Donna Edwards of Maryland, Carolyn Kilpatrick of Michigan, Danny Davis of Illinois, Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Jackie Speier of California seated themselves in the area from which Senate staffers ordinarily watch their bosses on the floor.

Nothing really came of the silent protest.

But it was the second planned trip from the House side of the Capitol to the Senate — with the first being last week — and this brief sojourn to the upper chamber drew the attention of reporters when Senate Press gallery staffers announced their presence on the floor.

The orchestrated "sit-in" was a modest illustration of House frustration over the dozens of major pieces of legislation that have cleared the lower chamber only to be stuck in legislative limbo in the Senate. In addition to a pending small-business jobs bill, the House has passed climate change legislation, campaign finance reform and a tax extenders package — all of which await Senate approval.