From: Cindy Copus cindy@bbnow.net Dear Department of Commerce, I am just an ordinary citizen-- a student doing my senior paper on How the Internet has changed the United States and ultimately the way the world does business. From a consumer point of view: I ran across this bill- P994809 / Docket No. 990811219-9219-01- and had to respond. As a citizen I would like to say as long as the customer agrees to "online profiling" it should be all right. However, they must be informed that information is being collected. There are mail order companies and software companies that have a check box for customers to agree to the release of information about them. To me personally, for an Internet company to track, log and profile my usage, is the same as the phone company listening to my conversations and then selling my "profile" to advertisers and marketing companies. Or how about this: The phone company logging the fact you are calling mortgage companies so they "profile" this and sell your name, address, phone and other information to marketers, maybe your social, income and employment information. I could go on with these examples, but I know your following me. Your imagination may even be better than mine. Legislation is not good for the economy, yet we as citizens have to use the tools that our society make available to us to assure protection for ourselves and loved ones. Business should be allowed to do what they want, however they should be forced if necessary to inform the consumer so the consumer can make a truly educated purchase and or choice. Thanks for listening, have a wonderful week Cindy |