FTC Endorses �Do Not Track� Information Control Regime for the Internet
Ironically, depending on how it�s implemented, a �Do Not Track� mechanism could potentially require individuals to surrender more personal information about themselves to companies or the government for purposes of authentication and enforcement of the rule.
It would also require a re-architecting of the Internet and the potential regulation of every web browser to ensure compliance. This will give the FTC and other lawmakers far greater control over the Internet�s architecture.
For that reason, one can easily imagine would-be Net censors using the �Do Not Track� mechanism being used as a blueprint to regulate other types of online speech.
One also wonders if mandatory browser controls opens up a potential new back-door for government surveillance snoops to exploit.
Most importantly, if �Do Not Track� really did work as billed, it could fundamentally upend the unwritten quid pro quo that governs online content and services: Consumers get lots of �free� sites, services, and content, but only if we generally agree to trade some data about ourselves and have ads served up. After all, as we�ve noted many times before here, there is no free lunch. The cornucopia of seemingly free services and content at our fingertips didn�t just fall to Earth like manna from heaven. Data collection and advertising made that all happen. If we undercut this goose that lays the Internet�s golden eggs, consumers could see charges on many services that they currently pay little to nothing for. Do you want to pay $20 a month for your favorite social networking site? A dime per search on your preferred search engine? Well, that�s the future that could await us if we continue down this regulatory road.
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10 Mar 2011 12:44PM
