Large ISPs endorse customer opt-in for Web tracking
Three of the four largest ISPs (Internet service providers) in the U.S. said Thursday that they will adopt policies that require them to get meaningful permission from customers before tracking online activities.
Representatives of AT&T, Time Warner Cable and Verizon told a U.S. Senate committee that they currently do not engage in behavioral advertising that uses subscribers' Web activities to deliver contextual ads. If the ISPs decide to start behavioral advertising programs, they will give customers a detailed description of the ad program and ask for permission before tracking online activities, the companies said.
However, the ISPs also suggested that legislation is not now needed to protect customer privacy online. Despite a flurry of concern in recent months about some ISPs tracking subscriber activities, lawmakers should give ISPs and Web businesses time to develop a set of best practices for behavioral advertising and information collection, said Tom Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president for public affairs, policy and communications.
