The privacy resolution includes consumer information as an area that the federal government should significantly increase protection of privacy. One area where consumer information is collected and where there is growing concern is the internet. Internet companies collect information about the people who visit their web site. Some companies have begun aggressively collecting information and combining information collected via the internet with other consumer databases. Cookies are placed on user's computers by web sites to identify that user when he or she returns.
Cookies can store passwords and preferences to make using the site more convenient for customers.
But these cookies can also gather personal and internet usage information. One way to try to prevent improper use of cookies would be to pass legislation banning such information gathering. A better approach may be for government to do nothing. When a major Internet marketing firm, DoubleClick, was caught taking advantage of cookies, the objections of privacy advocates coupled with advertising by competitors forced DoubleClick to quickly shape up. The bad publicity drove DoubleClick stock down 40 points.