IP: Privacy Group Is Taking Issue With Microsoft

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Privacy Group Is Taking Issue With Microsoft

By STEVE LOHR


A leading privacy group intends to file a formal complaint with the Federal 
Trade Commission about Microsoft (news/quote)'s plans to bundle its 
Passport identification system for collecting personal information into its 
new Windows XP operating system.

The complaint from the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a public 
interest and advocacy group, promises to add to the pressure on Microsoft's 
strategy of tightly linking a series of Internet services like music, 
shopping and banking to Windows XP.

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to hold hearings in September on 
Microsoft's plans for integrating Web services into the new operating 
system, which is scheduled to be introduced on Oct. 25. And a member of the 
Judiciary committee, Senator Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, sent 
a letter yesterday to the Justice Department and several state attorneys 
general urging them to enjoin Microsoft from shipping Windows XP unless it 
scales back its plans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/25/technology/ebusiness/25COMP.html



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