Senator Boxer On Computer Privacy

Received via email:

TO: The Lonewacko Blog
FROM: Sen. Barbara Boxer
SUBJECT: Senator Boxer On Computer Privacy

Dear Friend:

I recently joined my colleagues, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) in introducing legislation to better protect the privacy of American computer users. Our bill would prohibit spyware, adware, and other invasive software from being secretly installed on Americans' computers.

Our SPYBLOCK (Software Principles Yielding Better Levels of Consumer Knowledge) Act would prohibit installing software on somebody else's computer without notice and consent, and requires reasonable "uninstall" procedures for all downloadable software. Spyware, adware and other hidden programs often secretly piggyback on downloaded Internet software without the user's knowledge, transmitting information about computer usage and generating pop-up advertisements. Frequently such software is designed to be virtually impossible to uninstall.

This legislation will give consumers control over the programs that are downloaded onto their computers. As more and more people use the Internet, privacy violations become a greater threat, and we want to give computer users the power to protect themselves from spyware and other hazardous software.

The bill also prohibits programs designed to trick users about who is responsible for content a user sees, such as causing a counterfeit replica of a company's Web site to appear whenever the consumer attempts to navigate toward a legitimate company's Web site. These types of programs have been used to fraudulently obtain personal financial information from users confused by dummy Web sites.

I'm sure most software developers want Barbara Boxer telling them how to do things. How do I make sure my uninstaller complies? Will installer software companies have to produce Boxer-approved versions?

What about ActiveX, which, unless the user (like me) turns notification on, is installed behind the user's back? Does javascript or other executable content that runs in the browser and stays in the cache count as "installed?" How do we tell a "legitimate" website from one that's not? What of the many programs that remove spyware? Hasn't Barbara ever heard of them?

This is one of those things that might sound good to some people, but is impracticable. The solution is not more bureacracy and laws, the solution is education. EBay and other companies already spend money advertising the fact that there are scams out there. The DOJ and various attorneys general investigate complaints and prosecute criminals, and they don't need this legislation to help them do their jobs. Let things continue as they are, and keep Barbara Boxer as far away from software development as possible.

Privacy · Tue, 03/02/2004 - 22:55 · · Importance: 1