The World Privacy Forum filed comments with the Office of Management and Budget regarding its proposal to begin to allow the use of tracking cookies on government web sites. The proposal was published in the Federal Register, and outlined a three-tiered plan for how web tracking technologies might be used. The Forum’s comments focused on methods of opt-out, data retention, secondary use, user authentication, new tracking technologies such as Flash cookies, and the need for new opt-out mechanisms. The Forum also urged the federal government to not allow third party tracking of consumers’ use of government web sites, and to guard against any discrimination against consumers who do not want to be tracked.

Online privacy and government web sites — The World Privacy Forum filed comments with the Office of Management and Budget regarding its proposal to begin to allow the use of tracking cookies on government web sites. The proposal was published in the Federal Register, and outlined a three-tiered plan for how web tracking technologies might be used. The Forum’s comments focused on methods of opt-out, data retention, secondary use, user authentication, new tracking technologies such as Flash cookies, and the need for new opt-out mechanisms. The Forum also urged the federal government to not allow third party tracking of consumers’ use of government web sites, and to guard against any discrimination against consumers who do not want to be tracked.

Cloud computing — The World Privacy Forum sent a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa today expressing concerns and questions about a proposed contract to move the city of Los Angeles’ email and some other computing tasks to a cloud-based system. The Forum expressed concerns in particular about the lack of contractual protection for health data, AIDs data, genetic information, domestic violence and sexual assault victim information, among other sensitive information. The Forum suggested the city undertake an independent and thorough risk assessment prior to completing the contract, and suggested a robust public comment process that includes all stakeholders. The City will take up the issue of this contract at a city council Information Technology Committee meeting on Tuesday July 21. The World Privacy Forum published a detailed analysis of the privacy issues of cloud computing in February which outlines the challenges and ambiguities that governments and others face as they make decisions about what data to put in the cloud.

The World Privacy Forum sent a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa today expressing concerns and questions about a proposed contract to move the city of Los Angeles’ email and some other computing tasks to a cloud-based system. The Forum expressed concerns in particular about the lack of contractual protection for health data, AIDs data, genetic information, domestic violence and sexual assault victim information, among other sensitive information. The Forum suggested the city undertake an independent and thorough risk assessment prior to completing the contract, and suggested a robust public comment process that includes all stakeholders. The City will take up the issue of this contract at a city council Information Technology Committee meeting on Tuesday July 21. The World Privacy Forum published a detailed analysis of the privacy issues of cloud computing in February which outlines the challenges and ambiguities that governments and others face as they make decisions about what data to put in the cloud.

Social networks — In the wake of Europe’s Article 29 Working Party Opinion on Social Network Providers adopted in June, the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV) has sent out warning letters to five social networking providers in Germany, including Facebook and MySpace. The letters focus on the excessive rights the companies allow themselves in their respective Terms of Use agreements, and on shortcomings in the privacy policies. VZBV is comprised of 41 German consumer associations.