Privacy Groups Critical Of Commerce Privacy Report

Privacy advocates were skeptical of the proposals outlined in a privacy report released by the Commerce Department. While pleased that the agency is bringing attention to the need to do more to protect consumer privacy online, representatives from five privacy groups said in a conference call that the report's proposed measures are too focused on industry self regulation.

It's a "Christmas gift to the data collection industry from the Obama administration," according to John Simpson of Consumer Watchdog. Susan Grant with the Consumer Federation of America said it appears that the "thrust" of the report continues to focus on industry self regulation. "We've tried that and it's clearly inadequate," she said. "We need real privacy legislation." The Center for Democracy and Technology called the report a "creative and flexible approach to develop enforceable privacy protections for consumers," but also said Congress should pass baseline privacy legislation. Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy argued that an agency that is focused on promoting U.S. business "cannot play the role of an independent, honest broker. ... Having the Commerce Department play a role in protecting privacy will enable the data collection foxes to run the consumer privacy henhouse."