Internet firms seek limits on privacy law - Mpls Star Tribune

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Steven Clift <clift () publicus net>
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 14:45:33 -0600
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Internet firms seek limits on privacy law - Mpls Star Tribune

For IP.

From:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/3663661.html

Internet firms seek limits on privacy law

Steve Alexander 
Star Tribune


Published Feb. 20, 2003 PRIV20


The ink is hardly dry on Minnesota's first-of-its-kind Internet privacy law,
but already opponents are trying to limit the law's reach, raising concerns
among privacy advocates.

The Minnesota law, passed last spring and set to take effect March 1,
requires 
Internet service providers (ISPs) to give customers a listing of information
they have about them and their Web browsing habits. ISPs often keep records
on 
the sites their customers visit; sometimes they sell that information to
advertisers and retailers.

"The Minnesota law is a pioneer and a test case to see whether state-level
privacy laws are desirable and whether they are workable in practice," said
Michael Beresik, national director of the privacy practice at accounting
firm 
PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, D.C.

Big national Internet providers such as AOL Time Warner are trying to
eliminate 
some of the law's requirements. AOL opposed the law last year on the grounds
it 
would lead to an unworkable patchwork quilt of privacy laws in all 50
states. 

Some national experts say AOL might be right, and that laws like Minnesota's
may lead Congress to enact a national privacy law that would over-ride any
state laws. 

But for now, the focus is on modifying the Minnesota law. AOL and the U.S.
Internet Service Provider Association, a Washington, D.C., trade
organization 
for other large ISPs such as Earthlink, are back at the Legislature backing
new 
bills in the House and Senate that would limit the responsibility of ISPs to
provide information to customers.

...

-- 
Steven Clift
clift () publicus net
Democracies Online Newswire
http://www.e-democracy.org/do


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