Web surfers could soon be paying a "privacy tax" on Internet sites and for online services due to the heat advocates are putting on congress and the Obama Administration for increased regulation of online advertising, writes Adam Thierer in an opinion piece for Forbes. The push for regulation could mean unintended consequences Thierer says, including pay walls to cover decreased advertising opportunities, a dwindling of  "more and better" online content and a detrimental effect on the ability of U.S. advertising agencies to compete internationally. Advocates haven't been able to prove real harm when it comes to online advertising, sufficient online tools already protect consumers and new regulation is "unnecessary," Thierer says.
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