Commerce Department Calls for "Baseline" Consumer Privacy Rights

Privacy continues to be a hot topic in Washington.  On December 16, the U.S. Department of Commerce Internet Policy Task Force issued a privacy report titled "Commercial Data Privacy and Innovation in the Internet Economy: A Dynamic Policy Framework."  The task force describes the report as a green paper which is part of an ongoing effort to revise U.S. privacy law, industry guidelines and business practices to accommodate new and increased uses of consumer information.

The Green Paper is similar to the FTC's recent Privacy Report (summarized here and here) and is designed to provide guidance to Congress as it considers new federal privacy legislation, and guidance for businesses that collect, share, use or store personal consumer information.