The path to those higher standards is not through more laws and regulation. Rather, industry, advocates for privacy and consumers, and the Commission should be able to make further progress by continuing to work together toward what we all agree to be a mutually beneficial goal. There is an incredibly exciting new world of economic and educational power before us. The rapid convergence of technology, information, and entrepreneurship is ushering in one of the greatest expansions of freedom, choice, and independence mankind has seen, and democracy will be the better for it. However, without personal responsibility, democracy cannot flourish.
Consumers definitely have a role to play.
For certain, there are hazards associated with this new environment. How we balance protecting consumers and, at the same time, make it possible for this vast potential to develop is critical. S. 809 addresses each of these principles. The devil is in the details. We are coming to realize that technology and cost, not to mention the exponential growth of the online world, are serious impediments.