For real.
[T]he Federal Trade Commission is mulling a simple mechanism that would allow users to opt out of behavioral tracking across the Web . . . .
FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said the system would be similar to the Do-Not-Call registry that enables consumers to shield their phone numbers from telemarketers.
. . . .
“It’s really in the hands of the private sector,” Leibowitz said. “If they want to do a better job of … giving clear choices and have clearer notice, then I think it’s in their hands to avoid legislation. I think if they don’t, and if we don’t see more progress, I think you’re going to see probably in the next Congress a fair amount of interest in moving legislation forward to have more prescriptive rules.”
-eCommerce-Guide.com
Um. It’s kinda already built in to everyone’s web browser.
Tools > Options > Privacy. Then uncheck the “Allow cookies” box. Do-Not-Track registry implemented on an individual user scale in a matter of seconds.
Doing this will “allow users to opt out of behavioral tracking across the Web.”
Sure, there will be a lot of sites that don’t work quite right. But they kinda need to have some of your info if you to interact with their site. Sending the advertising industry back to the stone age isn’t the answer here.
How about spending your efforts on educating consumers how to use their computers?
[via eCommerce Guide]
