Senator Introduces Internet Privacy Bill

January 29, 2001, Washington DC -- Senator John Edwards (D-NC) on Monday reintroduced legislation to protect the privacy of people who use computer software programs that secretly track the shopping habits and other interests of Internet surfers.

"Technology makes our lives easier in so many ways, but that convenience can compromise our privacy," Senator Edwards said. "The same technology that puts information at our fingertips also makes our shopping and web surfing habits, even our medical and financial records, available to the highest bidder."

The Spyware Control and Privacy Protection Act (S-197) would uncloak so-called spyware programs that use encrypted codes to monitor the activities of unsuspecting computer users and share the personal information with advertisers, telemarketers or other businesses. Senator Edwards proposed the bill in 1999, but Congress failed to act on it before finishing business late last year.

Under the spyware bill, software providers that use codes to track the activities of Internet users would have to notify consumers in plain language when the users buy or download programs. No information on Internet surfing habits could be collected without first obtaining each consumer's permission. Businesses that gather data would have to let individuals know what information has been assembled, provide a way to correct errors, and safeguard the data against unauthorized access by hackers.

"Spyware is just one of many startling examples of how our privacy is being eroded," Senator Edwards said. "This legislation is a reasonable way to help Americans regain some of their lost privacy. We must find ways to keep confidential personal records confidential."

The measure is one in a series proposed by Senator Edwards to protect the privacy of personal records amassed by Internet businesses, banks, health insurance providers, and telephone companies. He plans to reintroduce the Telephone Call Privacy Act, which he authored last Congress to keep telephone records from being sold without consumers' consent.

Senator Edwards also cosponsored the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, designed to block Internet service providers, web sites and advertisers from tracking our web surfing habits. He plans to back this legislation when it is reintroduced by Senator Hollings.

Full Text of Spyware Control and Privacy Protection Act (S-197)