- Pledges its customers will be required to give permission before information is collected and used for such services WASHINGTON, Sept. 25
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- It's time for all companies
that track and collect data about consumer online search and Web browsing
activity for the purpose of delivering behavioral advertising to step out of
the cloud of invisibility to give consumers more control over whether and how
their online information is collected and used, AT&T's Chief Privacy Officer
Dorothy Attwood said today.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, Attwood said, "While we have no immediate plans to offer
online behavioral advertising we believe that a key dimension of any such
program would be to give customers significant control over collection and use
of their search and Web browsing data for online advertising purposes, by
requiring their advance affirmative consent. This policy would mean that a
consumer's failure to act will not result in any collection and use of that
consumer's information for online behavioral advertising purposes by default.
"Over the past several months we have talked with consumers about what
they want and expect from any company using their online information to
provide behavioral advertising," Attwood said. "Based on that input, we
pledge to uphold a few simple principles in the design of any online
behavioral advertising program we may deliver in the future:
-- Our customers will be required to give their permission before we
collect and use their information for online behavioral advertising.
-- Our customers will have clear information about the customer
information we plan to collect and use for online behavioral advertising, and,
and how long it will be retained.
-- Our customers will be notified before we begin any online behavioral
advertising activity using their information.
-- Our customers can change their participation in our online behavioral
advertising program, and they will be able to make that change easily.
-- Our customers will have their identity protected no matter what choice
they make about participating in any online behavioral advertising program we
may offer."
Attwood warned that the privacy issues related to the online collection
and use of consumer information are not unique to Internet Service Providers
(ISPs). "While this pledge represents AT&T's commitment, there are many other
companies with access to information about online users, many of which collect
large volumes of data every day for advertising purposes without the knowledge
or affirmative consent of those users. Only when all companies that track and
collect data for the purpose of delivering behavioral advertising -- including
search engines, advertising networks and ISPs -- adopt similar commitments to
transparency, customer control and privacy will Internet users have more
confidence in the privacy of their online experience. We urge all entities
engaged in this space to join us in supporting these pro-consumer policies,"
she said.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its
subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of
AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings
are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and
the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.
In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and
advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM
organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as
communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy,
AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked
No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company
list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided
by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.
