Sen Franken, consumer groups urge Obama to push for new online privacy rules

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and a host of public interest groups -- including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Center for Digital Democracy and Consumer Watchdog -- urged the Obama Administration to fight for new measures to regulate how Web companies handle users' private data.

The groups, along with dozens of other organizations and companies, submitted comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a Commerce Department agency that will lead discussions about how to better protect consumers' privacy online. The groups say voluntary guidelines won't be enough to protect privacy. Consumer Watchdog urged the Commerce Department to propose its own privacy legislation and push Congress to pass it. The ACLU said legislation should "remain the central focus" of privacy protections. (April 3)