Congress has begun to draft a bill that will require companies like Google to warn its users beforehand of its ad-tracking activity in a bid to protect users’ privacy rights.

Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) are crafting the bill which highlights the need to revive requirements of the defeated Consumer Privacy Protection Act, first proposed in 2002.

I think if we empower (Internet) users in this way, Boucher told CNET, it would lead to greater consumer confidence, leading to more electronic commerce.

Among other things, the CPPA provided that upon the first instance of collection from the consumer of personally identifiable information, that may be used for a purpose unrelated to the transaction, by a data-collection organization, the organization shall provide the notice at the time personally identifiable information is collected.

The bill will also require data-collection agencies to give consumers the choice to opt out of the sale or disclosure of personal information, and imposed a requirement for the drafting and implementation of an information security Relevant Products/Services policy to protect confidential information.

Florida Congress Privacy Google