Excellent post Popper.
I particularly wish to emphasise the following paragraphs from the
Out-law.com news story covering the round table meeting in London last Friday June 20th...
Privacy
[European Consumer Commissioner Meglena] Kuneva expressed concern about the targeting of adverts in what might be interpreted as a reference to recent controversy over Phorm, an advertising technology firm.
"If you watch tennis over the internet, you will be targeted with ads for tennis items. If you read about home improvement, chances are that you will receive ads for repair services and new furniture," she said. "But there are some concerns that the amounts of personal data collected over the internet without the awareness of users, let alone their consent, is getting too large and a bit out of control."
"The European Data Protection Supervisor has stated that our current legislation requires explicit consent each time personal data is collected. The reality on internet is far removed from these principles," she said.
Kuneva continued: "Currently many websites offer to click for 'enhanced services'. Is this an informed consent? How many people actually know that this amounts to consent to having their behaviour tracked, to have that data stored and then used commercially? What would be fair terms in an agreement to allow tracking? Publishers currently have privacy policies that allow the installation of tracking devices that are not themselves covered by their privacy policy. Is this a fair term? I believe that informed consent is the central issue that consumer policy must next address."
Yet another person who needs applause for taking this data mining and profiling situation seriously.
But as you say, it is time that those in power who are expected to uphold the laws of the land stopped this tail chasing and started to apply the existing legislation thereby protecting peoples on-line privacy.