AT&T tells Congress it wants to track web surfing

Toss another log on the fire of Internet privacy and possible Congressional oversight. AT&T, in its response to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's recent request for information on the data broadband providers are collecting about their customers, said it hasn't really begun to test a system that tracks web surfers' travels, but it would like to.

AT&T, which said it was "carefully considering" tracking, did say it would employ an opt-in system for anyone involved rather than the opt-out approach some of the other ISPs that have responded say they use.

"If done properly ... overall behavioral targeted advertising could prove quite valuable to consumers and could dramatically improve their online experiences, while at the same time protecting their privacy," wrote an AT&T spokeswoman.

Congress started its inquiry after reports began to surface about ISPs tracking user web surfing habits for use in targeted advertising.

The committee sent letters to 33 companies asking for information about their own targeting practices. So far, 32 of the 33 companies contacted by the committee have responded (Check out all of their letters to the committee here).

For more:
See the PC Magazine story

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