Commerce Dept. weighs privacy policy guidelines

Cecilia Kang reports:

The Commerce Department has drafted broad recommendations for Internet privacy oversight in a widely anticipated report that could set the stage for tighter regulation of Web firms.

Among its 10 policy recommendations, the report calls for strengthening the Federal Trade Commission’s rule-making powers and enacting legislation requiring Internet companies to inform customers of data breaches. Trade publication TR Daily obtained a copy of a draft summary of the report.

A Commerce Department spokeswoman confirmed Monday that a draft of the report was leaked but said a final version, which will go to the White House, will be released “in the coming weeks.”

Read more in the Washington Post.