FROM THE ARCHIVE

US wants to keep your cookies

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OCTOBER 23, 2000

In response to Congressional testimony on the failure of several government web sites to adhere to federal privacy guidelines, the White House said it wants to keep users' cookies, but only some of them.

Earlier this month, testimony from the General Accounting Office indicated that 13 agency web sites had ignored White House Office of Management and Budget ban on the use of cookies. The GAO also said the sites were not alerting visitors that cookies were being used, a violation of one of the Federal Trade Commission's basic privacy policies.

In a letter to the GAO, the White House said the government's ban on cookies only applies to certain types. It only applies to persistent, or non-expiring, cookies and to cookies used to disseminate information to a private company.

At least one site, the International Programs site of the US Forest Service, has given its cookies to a private company who compiles reports for them.

But other types of cookies are allowed, says the OMB. These cookies usually help a website identify a repeat visitor, track their orders, and remember other pertinent information about them.

These types of cookies, says the OMB, are helpful. Indeed, most web sites use these cookies to prevent users from having to enter information about themselves every time they visit. For the most part, the use of cookies is harmless.

Still, many users are concerned about cookies and how they are used. Depending on the website and how well they treat privacy, cookies can also contain information such as passwords or other personal information.

And although these can only be transmitted to the web site which created the cookie, many sites use the same online advertisement companies, which means users can be tracked across multiple sites, giving off a "big brother" impression to the surfing experience.

Surfers concerned about cookie usage can control them through the use of management software. Users can also find the cookie files themselves and delete and manipulate them.

Get the GAO Report:
Internet Privacy: Comparison of Federal Agency Practices with FTC's Fair Information Principles (GAO-01-113T October 2000)

Read the Testimony:
Recent Developments in Privacy Protections for Consumers (Oversight Hearing of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications Trade & Consumer Protection October 2000)

Related Stories:
Be careful where you click (Tech 10/23)

Relevant Links:
The Dark Side of Cookies - www.cookiecentral.com/dsm.htm
The Cookie Controversy - www.cookiecentral.com/ccstory/
Cookie Management Software - dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/
Internet/World_Wide_Web/Browsers/Utilities/Cookie_Management/