Is What's Good For Consumers Bad For Business?

摘要

From Washington to St. Paul, Minn., to Sacramento, Calif, and dozens of points in between, lawmakers in Congress and 36 state legislatures are advancing bills that would require businesses to get permission from consumers before personal information can be shared with others. If such opt-in laws are passed, there's concern that businesses may have to retool their IT systems to comply with stricter regulations in collecting data online―and, in some cases, through other means as well. A bill signed into law last week by Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura may be the most lenient of the lot. It affects only Internet service providers that operate networks in the state, requiring them to place a "conspicuous" notice on their Web sites disclosing steps consumers can take to prevent disclosure of personal data. The law lets operators choose whether consumers grant permission before their data is distributed or whether permission is assumed unless consumers notify the company otherwise.