“Do Not Track” Bill Would Stop Online Information Seekers from Tracking Kids

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), House author of the Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and Co-chairman of the Bi-Partisan Congressional Privacy Caucus, and former Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Telecommunictions and the Internet issued the following statement today following the hearing on the need for “Do Not Track” legislation held by the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection:

“For many kids today, the Internet is like online oxygen – they can’t live without it. The Internet presents access to incredible opportunities to learn and communicate that were unimaginable only a few years ago. But kids growing up in this online environment also need protection from dangers that can lurk in cyberspace. Children should be playing ‘Hide and Seek’ not ‘Hide from the Creep.’ That’s why to ensure that kids are protected, I plan to introduce legislation next year that will include a 'Do Not Track' requirement so that kids do not have their online behavior tracked or their personal information collected or profiled. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this legislation forward.”