Silicon Valley readies for privacy battle

In the wake of a series of privacy missteps by Google, Facebook and other companies, a growing chorus on Capitol Hill is calling for major online privacy legislation and Silicon Valley companies are girding for the battle.

Washington politicians say they are increasingly concerned about how Silicon Valley's treatment of personal data could infringe on constituents' online privacy. Even as Congress begins to debate a controversial bill intended to update online privacy rules, a constant drip of headlines this spring about privacy problems affecting Google, Facebook and, now, Apple, has caused several congressional committees, the Obama administration, and members of Congress from both political parties to home in on the issue. "While privacy concerns have ebbed and flowed, I think it is fair to say that they are at an all-time high now," said Jim Dempsey, vice president for public policy for the Center for Democracy & Technology.