Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Internet Bigwigs Fight NY Law on Tracking Web Users

Companies say they have a right to collect information for advertisers

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Apr 10, 2008 4:15 PM CDT

(Newser) – Google, Yahoo and a bevy of Internet biggies have joined to fight a proposed New York state law that would limit their ability to collect information about people's web habits for advertisers, reports the Wall Street Journal. The coalition says the law would endanger the future of online advertising and “the availability of free content on the Internet.”

But the bill’s Democratic sponsor says the companies simply want the right to invade people's privacy, "and we're not going to let them do that." The group—which also includes eBay, Comcast, AOL, EDS, Facebook, Monster and Reed Elsevier—says the law is both unconsitutional and unncessary because the industry already polices itself.

The America Online logo is seen at the AOL booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in this Jan. 5 file photo.
The America Online logo is seen at the AOL booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in this Jan. 5 file photo.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
A Google sign inside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is seen in this May 30, 2007, file photo.
A Google sign inside Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. is seen in this May 30, 2007, file photo.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
A Yahoo worker walks into Yahoo headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.
A Yahoo worker walks into Yahoo headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Lawsuit: We Invented the Web, So Pay Up Google

Google, Yahoo, 13 Others Declare War on Phishing

Online Piracy Bill Becomes Major Battle

Microsoft, Aol, Yahoo Agree to Sell Each Other's Ads

Google Looking to Buy Yahoo


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne