Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

During the past decade the technological advancements of the Internet has significantly changed the method of communications and access to information for millions of users worldwide. First developed as a secure communications mode for the military during the height of the cold war era, the Internet has become as commonplace for Americans as the telephone or automobile. Users, provided that they have the necessary computer hardware and browser application as well as a network connection to the Internet are able to access and exchange information at speeds measured in thousandths of a second. Each time a connection to the Internet is made, users risk compromising their privacy through many different channels, including Internet service providers,
ECPA was passed into law in 1986 as an extension of existing regulations governing wiretapping of telephones and interception of postal mail by the US government. “Privacy advocates note that privacy threats occur in part because legislative and regulatory policies generally seem to trail behind the capabilities of emerging technologies” (Marshall 948). Most agree that this legislation, though sufficient at the time of enactment is seriously out of date given today’s cutting edge Internet data collection technologies. On the other hand, entities that engage in data collection as well as law enforcement benefit from the ambiguities that the ECPA presents and are not in favor of stronger privacy protection
With the ever-evolving technology to exchange information instantaneously users are able to carry out many of the everyday tasks that previously required a visit to the bank, post office or library. However with all of the conveniences that this robust communication medium brings to our lives, come serious issues concerning safeguarding of users’ private information. There are numerous avenues that a users’ privacy can be compromised, and inevitably, one can not avoid disclosing a certain amount of data when using the Internet. At issue is the absence of federal legislation regulating who, what and where this information may be collected, assimilated and shared with various marketing organizations or governmental authorities. Prior to the advent of the Internet American’s personal matters such as financial records, health information, personal correspondence was stored in the home; it is there that Americans are afforded the privacy protections as set-forth in the constitution. With today’s technology, intimate details regarding our lives are stored on network servers not in the home. The issue of Internet privacy has been brought before congress on numerous occasions in the past decade and to date no federal legislation has been enacted to ensure that users’ private information is governed by the same standards as if it was stored in our homes. Internet users truly are