“White House to Open Gate on Tracking Web Browsing”

So reads the headline of Politics Daily.

The article goes on to say: “Since 2000, government Web sites have been banned from using cookies, which are identifying codes collected when a computer visits a Web site. When the computer returns, the Web site remembers the previous visits. The ban was enacted as a privacy protection.”

But in Obama’s proposal, published in the Federal Register, it clearly states that: “The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is considering options for revising the current prohibition on Web tracking technologies.”

Obama’s proposal freely admits that these cookies will gather information about your Internet activities “beyond what is needed for Web analytics” [blog author emphasis added].

Here is what the OMB says on that:
“3rd Multi-session technologies for use as persistent identifiers—which track users over multiple visits with the intent of remembering data, settings, or preferences unique to that visitor for purposes beyond what is needed for Web analytics.”

Obama’s proposal would allow for “tracking cookies”. Those are the “evil” cookies. They are not benign. And while some types of cookies are considered benign, so are some types of cancer. Tessler doesn’t like cancer, either (benign or otherwise).

Obama wants to do away with that ban on government sites placing cookies in your computer. He doesn’t want to protect your privacy on the Internet.

With the ban lifted, the different government agencies can then pool their collective knowledge about your visits to their websites.

It’s bad enought that private companies like Experian, Acxiom and Datran Media already do this (collect information about your Internet habits and preferences) but now the government will have the same ability if Obama gets his way.

How scary can this get? Read the NY Times (on line edition) article entitled: “Ads Follow Web Users, and Get More Personal”

Part of the article states: “Datran’s cookies include 50 to 100 pieces of information” [about your Internet preferences].

If a private company can collect that much information from your Internet activities, just wait and see what the Federal Government can do along those same lines under an Obama Administration that is already asking you to write the White House if you hear, see or read anything “fishy” about Obamacare.

Scary. Real scary!

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