The New York Times reports on the often mysterious data marketing trail and how one U.S. senator is working to ensure consumers have legal protections to opt out and correct personal information amassed by data brokers and other online third parties. The range of ways companies gather consumer data—from sweepstakes to online surveys—makes it difficult for users to correct errors in their marketing profiles, the report states. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who recently led a contentious hearing on the current status of Do Not Track, said, “People have the right to be private insofar as it’s possible in the modern world,” though he acknowledged that Do-Not-Track legislation does not address the bigger issue of consumer data collection by data brokers. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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