Group asks FCC to make web services honor 'Do Not Track' requests

A consumer group, Consumer Watchdog, asked the Federal Communications Commission to force web service providers like Google to honor users’ requests that their information not be collected and sold. The group said in its petition that “edge providers,” or companies that provide services over the Internet, should follow “Do Not Track” requests from users. Currently, a user can tell their browser to send websites they access a Do Not Track request. They are largely symbolic because most websites don’t honor the requests.

The Consumer Watchdog filing comes days after the FCC’s network neutrality order went into effect. Under the new rules, the FCC is allowed to punish Internet providers for privacy violations under Section 222 of the Communications Act -- which the consumer group cited in the filing. Edge providers differ from the broadband providers subject to the net neutrality order. “Consumers’ privacy concerns about the Internet extend far beyond the broadband providers who are impacted by Section 222,” they wrote. “Many consumers are as concerned -- or perhaps even more worried -- about the online tracking and data collection practices of edge providers....A rule requiring that Do Not Track signals be honored would undoubtedly put to rest many consumers’ privacy concerns about the Internet. It would certainly bolster broadband deployment and use,” the group wrote.