Congress Inquires 33 Companies On Web Data Collection Practices

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has initiated an inquiry into Internet network operators’ practices, after privacy concerns over tracking consumers’ Web habits for targeted online advertising started to emerge. A total of 33 top cable, phone and Internet companies have been asked to provide information on their data collection practices.

The letter was sent to AOL, AT&T, Bresnan Communications; Bright House Networks, CableOne, Cablevision, Cbeyond, CenturyTel, Charter, Citizen Communications, Comcast, Covad, Cox, Earthlink, Google, Insight, Knology, Level 3, Mediacom, Microsoft, PAETEC, Qwest, RCN, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, tw telecom, WideOpenWest, TDS Telecom, United Online, Windstream Communications, Verizon, XO Communications, and Yahoo!.