Twitter Backs Do Not Track

Twitter announced Thursday that it was supporting browser-based do not track functionality, which the Obama Administration has been promoting as a voluntary approach to protecting Web user's privacy by giving the choice and control of their online information.

That announcement drew a tweeted statement of support from Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), co-chair of the House privacy caucus and co-sponsor of kids do not track legislation.

"@Twitter is tech industry leader w support of #donottrack. Other co's shld follow, give consumers right 2 say NO 2 info collection," tweeted Markey.

Twitter itself also tweeted that the move had gotten a shout-out from the Federal Trade Commission, which is a big backer of browser-based do not track. "The Federal Trade Commission's CTO, Ed Felten, just mentioned Twitter now supports Do Not Track. We applaud the FTC's leadership on DNT," the company said.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.