Has the "consumer-translucentness" an end due to F.T.C. actions?

Todays focus will be of course again on the customer and the “translucentness” the FTC tries to stop.

The New York Times article is talking about the FTC and how it is going to protect consumers online. Apparently the consumer has trouble protecting himself, because large organizations are tracking information gathering it and building whole profiles with data such as: on which websites, during which time of the day, and for how long a user has visited. Selling this, I would say "delicate" information had become a successful business.

As the article states further, the attempt of the FTC to stop tracking consumer information would have a direct effect on the billion dollar business done by online advertising.

By reading the before mentioned article it came to my mind why it is not done the other way around? Why doesn't the FTC give out an order that NO websites are allowed to track any information UNLESS the consumer clicks the "please track my information" button? That is the question. Wouldn't that be much easier for everybody? The companies would only have to change one thing and billions of consumers could just lay back and would not have to worry anymore. Think about it, how many "older people" are surfing the web and have no clue that 1. their information is tracked and 2. that there is a way of avoiding that? If the FTC wants to change something they should be more rigorous about it. The United States in general are a very consumer protective nation, so why not protect the consumer all the way?

Microsoft is mentioned as well and tries to be brilliant by commenting on their new browser, Internet Explorer 8, which gives the consumer the possibility to change settings, so browsing without being tracked can be done. In the same breath it is mentioned that those enhanced privacy controls have to be done at the start of every new browsing session. I say: Wow! Why doesn't Microsoft invent a browser a customer has to install every single time before a new browsing session? That would be the same thing, wouldn't it? Being inconvenient.

So next time you go online think about hitting the “do not track” button, if there is one. If there is none, you are probably becoming even more translucent in that very moment... Think about it.