Congress Questions Network Data-Collection Methods

By Steve Bosak The Energy and Commerce Committee is questioning the data-collection methods of search engines, including Google and Yahoo, asking how personal tracking data is used to serve targeted ads. Congress wants to know who is using DPI "packet snooping," and how, and if individual privacy rights are being violated by search engines that use DPI. Congress wants to know: How do search engines use your personal data? The House Committee on Energy and Commerce sent out letters on Friday to major network companies asking them, among other things, how they use personal tracking data to serve up those highly targeted ads. According to a statement posted on the Committee's Web site, top cable, Internet and phone companies have been asked to come clean about how they collect Web-browsing details. The investigation was... [read full story]