Online Activity Tracked Without Explicit Consent The Washington Post reports today about the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s ongoing inquiry into the online tracking activity of various internet companies. The Post reports that some internet companies have been using targeted-advertising technology without the explicit consent of consumers. More than a third of the 33 companies that received letters have indicated they do not conduct behavioral advertising - advertising based on users’ internet activity based on deep packet inspection.
This investigation started with the Committee sending a letter to Embarq Corporation about a online advertising test conducted with their internet users. The committee also held a hearing on deep packet inspection and it’s privacy implications, which we noted earlier on this blog. The Committee followed this with letters to additional companies, which can be viewed online along with an explanatory press release. The committee has also posted responses that they have received to date. I should note, however, that the link to those letters is not readily available from the Committee’s website - I accessed it through the link in the Washington Post article. Google has made their letter available through their public policy blog.
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Link | 2:22 pm ET
House Approves Extension of E-Verify Part of the ongoing debates over electronic employment verification systems is that the current basic pilot, or E-Verify program, is set to expire later this year. While there is still some disagreement over how the program might be expanded, I am aware of no one in Congress advocating for the program to be discontinued.
The House has taken the first step in extending (not expanding) this program when it recently passed HR 6633. The extension will be for five years (through October 31 November 30, 2013). The additional provisions of the bill would establish a stronger cost sharing relationship between the Social Security Administration (which is responsible for one of the databases used by the basic pilot), and the Department of Homeland Security. The inconsistent payment to the Social Security Administration, for basic pilot expenses has been a sticking point with some members of Congress. The bill also establishes two studies, one evaluating errors in the non-confirmation of employment eligibility (and the impacts of those errors), and the other focusing on the costs and efforts for small businesses to comply with the basic pilot reporting requirements.
With the expiration of this program coming soon, this bill actually has a chance of passing prior to the election recess (Congress is currently in recess until after Labor Day). But the Senate has been shy towards immigration since their last attempt at major immigration reform, so it’s not a certainty.
Link | 1:53 pm ET
Hill Tech Happenings, Week of July 28 July 30
Hearing:
The Senate Rules and Administration Committee will hold a hearing on S. 3212, the Bipartisan Electronic Voting Reform Act of 2008.
10 a.m., 301 Russell Building
July 31
Hearing:
The Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on federal government information technology planning.
9:30 a.m., 342 Dirksen Building
The House Science and Technology Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program (NITRD).
10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Building
Link | 10:02 am ET
