Do-Not-Track Plan a Good First Step for Digital Privacy

[Commentary] The recent agreement between the White House and tech companies on a voluntary “do-not-track” (DNT) system for web browsing — accompanied by a framework for a more comprehensive vision of the nation’s privacy policies — is a modest but positive step forward in the broader context of personal data privacy.

Most importantly, this announcement articulates a clear set of values and goals from the highest level of government, and establishes an institutional precedent that brings public and private interests together, prior to any legislative action. The DNT agreement is by no means a comprehensive fix-all, but it provides a meaningful entry point to address the broader issues that have evolved over several decades. If this first step is not followed by movement toward real legislation, it will leave important privacy issues unresolved. But this is the clearest vision of a privacy mission to come from a U.S. administration, and it established a multi-stakeholder process to get the ball rolling, two important prerequisites to real action. It also places the burden of proof with those who want something different.