The ruling could ruffle the marketing industry, as it holds that the processing and sale of lists of pharmacy customers may violate a general Massachusetts privacy law. Although Web sites have become more forthcoming about information being collected on visitor viewing habits, most consumers may not be aware that advertisers also can track their every move. As a result, consumer advocates are calling for web sites to issue detailed privacy statements informing consumers about the precise types of information that is collected and the use of such information. Government Authority Over Amusement Parks Safety experts say four fatalities during this August on American amusement park rides is tragic but coincidental. A total of six deaths for the 300 million visitors expected to visit amusement parks in 1999 is considered a remarkably small number.
Injuries are, however, on the rise in an industry that is sometimes self regulated.
Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Vermont have no inspection requirements since Congress passed a bill in 1981 removing jurisdiction from the Consumer Product Safety Commission for any permanently fixed amusement parks. In some states, regular inspections and accident reports are required and in others, insurers conduct inspections. Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey will introduce a house bill that will restore CPSC authority over fixed-site amusement parks. Permitted A federal judge has given the green light to nationwide class action on behalf of consumers who took the fen-phen diet drug combination for at least 30 days and now fear an increased risk of heart valve disease. If successful, the class action would give consumers the right to be monitored for physical injury as a result of taking the diet drug combination.