Gov Considers Reversing Policy on Tracking Citizens' Computers

Jillian Bandes | August 13, 2009 12:21 PM

For the past nine years, the government has been forbidden to track cookies from its users— you know, the bits of information that a computer transmits to a website when it visits that website. Now,

they want to start tracking that info, in a move that alarms even the ACLU. From Michael Macleod-Ball, Acting Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:

Without explaining this reversal of policy, the OMB is seeking to allow the mass collection of personal information of every user of a federal government website. Until the OMB answers the multitude of questions surrounding this policy shift, we will continue to raise our strenuous objections.

In the words of Ace of Spades: "Tracking Terrorists on the Internet: Bad. Tracking American Citizens on the Internet: Good."