Industry Groups Argue Against Regulations Based On Fair Information Practice Principles

Fair Information Practice Principles are a "useful tool" when analyzing online privacy, but should not be codified in new regulations or laws, a coalition of 13 ad, media and business organizations argue in comments submitted Jan 28 to the Department of Commerce.

Formally establishing a fair information principles-based framework for online privacy "would reduce industry's ability to respond to changes in consumer preferences and would hinder advancements in technology," the Interactive Advertising Bureau, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Association of National Advertisers, Newspaper Association of America and other groups say. The organizations' comments were submitted in response to a proposal by the Department of Commerce that industry groups and consumer advocates should jointly develop enforceable self-regulatory privacy policies based on Fair Information Practice Principles. The groups argue that Fair Information Practice Principles "serve as the foundation for many self-regulatory programs," but say that the principles should be "applied through self-regulation in a manner tailored to meet the particular context." What's more, the groups say, some of the principles aren't necessarily appropriate for companies engaged in online behavioral targeting, or tracking people as they surf the Web in order to serve them targeted ads.