Internet Privacy Debate Calls For Changes In Silicon Valley

WASHINGTON (KCBS) - The debate over Internet privacy continued on Thursday in Washington as a House Subcommittee looked at the feasibility of a "Do Not Track" system, for web browsing.

Massachusetts Democrat Edward Markey said the current law that protects kids is obsolete.

"Next year, I plan to introduce comprehensive children's privacy legislation that will include a "Do Not Track" requirement so that kids do not have their online behavior tracked or their personal information collected or profiled," he said.

KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:

And while the debate is gaining steam in Washington, much of the possible changes will land in the technology-rich Bay Area.

"Google, Facebook, Zynga, you name it. Some of the key players in this debate are all based within a very small radius here in the Bay Area," said Jim Steyer, head of San Francisco-based Common Sense Media. "That's why the Bay Area has a chance to revolutionize in a very positive way these protections for kids and teens."

At the hearing, Joe Pasqua, Vice President of Research at Mountain View's Symantec, cautioned that very soon, everything from your TV to your thermostat will be hooked up to the Internet.

"We need to think about tracking and privacy in a broader scope than just browsers, though they're an important first step," he said.

On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission endorsed the idea of a do-not-track function, but is calling for the industry to adopt it voluntarily.

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