Do Not Track Act This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to implement and enforce a do not track (DNT) system to protect consumers from unwanted online data harvesting and targeted advertising. Specifically, the bill requires the FTC to designate a DNT signal (sent by a connected device) and make publicly available a program that (1) is available for download to any common connected device; and (2) sends the DNT signal to every website, online service, or online application to which a user does not want their data sent each time the device connects to it. The bill further requires an operator of a website, service, or application to search for the DNT signal each time a device connects to it and, if it receives such signal, makes it unlawful for the operator to collect data (other than what is necessary for operation) from a user, use any data collected for targeted advertising, or share any data with a third party without consent. An operator shall not discriminate against a user based on DNT preference. If an operator collects more data than is necessary for operation and does not detect the signal, it must provide a user with notice of the user's rights under the DNT program. Additionally, the bill prohibits a third-party operator of a program that receives the DNT signal through the connected device of a user of a covered website, service, or application from collecting user data other than data collected to analyze how or whether the user engaged with the program.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Commerce
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityConsumer affairsFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Internet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaMarketing and advertisingRight of privacyState and local government operations
Do Not Track Act
USA116th CongressS-1578| Senate
| Updated: 5/21/2019
Do Not Track Act This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to implement and enforce a do not track (DNT) system to protect consumers from unwanted online data harvesting and targeted advertising. Specifically, the bill requires the FTC to designate a DNT signal (sent by a connected device) and make publicly available a program that (1) is available for download to any common connected device; and (2) sends the DNT signal to every website, online service, or online application to which a user does not want their data sent each time the device connects to it. The bill further requires an operator of a website, service, or application to search for the DNT signal each time a device connects to it and, if it receives such signal, makes it unlawful for the operator to collect data (other than what is necessary for operation) from a user, use any data collected for targeted advertising, or share any data with a third party without consent. An operator shall not discriminate against a user based on DNT preference. If an operator collects more data than is necessary for operation and does not detect the signal, it must provide a user with notice of the user's rights under the DNT program. Additionally, the bill prohibits a third-party operator of a program that receives the DNT signal through the connected device of a user of a covered website, service, or application from collecting user data other than data collected to analyze how or whether the user engaged with the program.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityConsumer affairsFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Internet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaMarketing and advertisingRight of privacyState and local government operations