The U.S. should “move forward on privacy legislation...

The U.S. should “move forward on privacy legislation now,” said Microsoft in comments (http://1.usa.gov/VkoAgC) to NTIA on big data and consumer privacy. The comments, made public by NTIA Tuesday (http://1.usa.gov/1sZUhYN), were in response to the White House big data report in May (CD May 2 p3). “Strong, comprehensive federal privacy legislation could establish a framework that enables all players to harness the potential of big data while respecting the privacy rights of those whose information contributes to the data,” Microsoft said. The Internet Association, whose members include Amazon, Facebook and Google, was more cautious in its comments (http://1.usa.gov/1sDoGyq). The association expressed concern that “any legislative proposal to address ‘big data’ may create a ‘precautionary principle problem’ that hinders the advancement of technologies and innovative services before they even develop.” “We urge the [Obama] Administration to work with stakeholders to identify the actual privacy and discrimination harms, if any, posed by ‘big data,'” it said.