The Federal Trade Commission says that it wants Internet companies such as Facebook and Google to craft their own solutions to privacy problems, but if they are not capable the agency is ready to do it for them, says its chairman. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz applauded Microsoft for exploring ways to incorporate the agency's recent suggestion for a "Do Not Track" function allowing consumers to opt out of Web tracking.
However, Leibowitz also said that the FTC is not afraid to use its voice and power to publicly shame companies that do not want to allow this functionality to their users.
"The other part of the bully pulpit is — and the commission is not in this position yet — is we can go and call for legislation. And I think many of the companies who want to do the right thing ... would prefer to do it voluntarily," Leibowitz said to POLITICO during a taping of C-SPAN’s "The Communicators."
Leibowitz added that the agency has several privacy investigations currently planned, but declined to comment further or name names.
Source: Politico
