The Obama administration is proposing to lift the ban forbidding government Web sites from installing cookies onto users’ computers, causing alarm for many privacy groups (Washington Post). The Office of Management and Budget has proposed ending the “cookie” ban on sites, in place since 2000, which would allow for the collection of personal data.
Cookies are identifying markers that, in this case, would track how users view government Web sites, collecting personal data and preferences. Right now, visiting the White House Web site does not track a user’s movements, but if you watch a video serviced by YouTube on the White House site, Google could potentially track you.
As social networking sites have changed the way people use the internet, cookies have become more acceptable. But these privacy groups allege that the government could collect a dossier of information on each person that visits a government website, which would greatly invade the privacy of each user interested in learning about the government, or interested in getting help from the government. This story is Jesselyn Radack’s topic on her Daily Kos diary today.
Check out Jesselyn's commentary on YouTube.
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