Here is a release from the ACLU called 'Government Proposes Massive Shift In Online Privacy Policy':
Changes Would Pose Serious Threat To Americans’ Personal Information, Says ACLU
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union submitted comments today to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) opposing its recent proposal to reverse current federal policy and allow the use of web tracking technologies, like cookies, on federal government websites. Cookies can be used to track an Internet user’s every click and are often linked across multiple websites; they frequently identify particular people.
Since 2000, it has been the policy of the federal government not to use such technology. But the OMB is now seeking to change that policy and is considering the use of cookies for tracking web visitors across multiple sessions and storing their unique preferences and surfing habits. Though this is a major shift in policy, the announcement of this program consists of only a single page from the federal register that contains almost no detail.
“This is a sea change in government privacy policy,” said Michael Macleod-Ball, Acting Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “Without explaining this reversal of policy, the OMB is seeking to allow the mass collection of personal information of every user of a federal government website. Until the OMB answers the multitude of questions surrounding this policy shift, we will continue to raise our strenuous objections.”
The use of cookies allows a website to differentiate between users and build a database of each user’s viewing habits and the information they share with the site. Since web surfers frequently share information like their name or email address (if they’ve signed up for a service) or search request terms, the use of cookies frequently allows a user’s identity and web surfing habits to be linked. In addition, websites can allow third parties, such as advertisers, to also place cookies on a user’s computer.
“Americans rely on the information from the federal government to research politics, medical issues and legal requirements. The OMB is now asking to retain the personal and identifiable information we leave behind,” said Christopher Calabrese, Counsel for the ACLU Technology and Liberty Project. “No American should have to sacrifice privacy or risk surveillance in order to access free government information. No policy change should be adopted without wide ranging debate including information on the restrictions and uses of cookies as well as impact on privacy.”
The Obama administration is attempting to implement this "sea change" in internet privacy policy with no debate, no transparency, and no explanation. To my knowledge, there is no Congressional authorization for this, and even if there was, it raises Constitutional issues.
Okay liberals, this is your call to arms. For years, you've been calling Bush a criminal and a unitary executive for his warrantless wiretapping of international phone calls from suspected terrorists and for his collecting phone records for the stated purpose of locating suspected terrorists. Now I've given you a clear example of Obama's intent to track Americans, not suspected terrorists, and invade their privacy via the internet, all without any accountability or oversight.
And while we're on the subject, what about Obama's national database of every American's medical records ? Isn't that an invasion of privacy as well ? I seem to remember something about doctor-patient confidentiality.
Should we frog march Obama out of the White House now ? If not, why not ?
Or are you now willing to say invading the privacy of terrorists is bad, but invading the privacy of Americans is okey-dokey, as long as Obama is doing it ?
Or will you just call me a racist ? (aka, The Reverend Response)
Enquiring minds want to know.
