Internet, tech firms not too worried about privacy legislation

Lobbyists for Internet and technology companies don't expect Congress to pass legislation protecting online privacy any time soon.

"I don't anticipate [comprehensive privacy legislation] getting done this year," said Michael Beckerman, CEO of the Internet Association, a new lobbying group that represents industry giants including Facebook, Google and Amazon. "It's not a front-burner issue right now," another technology lobbyist explained. Despite repeated calls, including from President Barack Obama, for online privacy legislation, Congress has been unable to unite around any bill that would set baseline requirements for how companies must handle their customers' personal information. Many technology companies compile troves of data on their customers, allowing for more customized services and more precisely targeted ads. The rise of smartphones has enabled companies to track users' locations and provide them with more useful information.