Letter to Tom Wheeler, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission - Investigate Use of Supercookies

Letter

Dear Chairman Wheeler:

We recently wrote to Verizon concerning news reports that a third-party advertising company had been exploiting a mobile tracking technology -- colloquially known as a "supercookie" -- that Verizon developed to collect information on the wireless Internet activity of its 100 million customers. A copy of that letter and the response we received from Craig Silliman, Verizon's Executive Vice President, Public Policy and General Counsel, are attached.

As you know, consumer privacy has long been a priority of the Commerce Committee. As we consider whether legislation may be necessary to fully protect consumers from the use of these supercookies, we also believe the Federal Communications Commission should use its full existing statutory authority to examine these practices. In particular, the use of these supercookies may implicate the Commission's rules and policies related to consumer privacy and transparency. Thank you and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Bill Nelson

Richard Blumenthal

Edward J. Markey

Source