Online Ad Giants to Congress: Don't Protect Consumers Online. Let us develop the safeguards!

The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) political wheeling and dealing should come under greater policymaker and press scrutiny, especially from EU privacy officials.  Online data collection companies are terrified that policymakers will enact reasonable safeguards that ensure consumers and citizens get to decide how their data can be collected and used--not the digital data grabbers at Google, Facebook, and many others.  These digital marketers would prefer that private deals be struck that will allow the data profiling status quo, including on issues related to our finances, health, ethnicity and children.  The are crowing that the Obama White House just endorsed a plan dependent on consumer groups being able to successfully win negotiations with industry on such critical issues as mobile and social network privacy.  See this excerpt from a DAA inspired letter just sent to Congress.
We note with satisfaction that the Obama Administration has endorsed existing, voluntary industry codes of conduct – such as the Digital Advertising Alliance – as an, effective approach to consumer privacy. We also believe that truly voluntary industry codes, of conduct provide flexibility,  speed,  and decentralization,  and can address many policy, challenges in the area of data privacy. However,  by definition,  such industry self-regulatory, codes are most likely to be effective when written by and for the companies that know their, markets and their customers best. Unlike government regulation or legislation,  industry developed, codes can adapt in a timely manner to shifting technologies,  business models,  and, consumer expectations. This flexibility also enables industry codes to deliver more detailed, standards than would be feasible for more general regulation or legislation. Most, importantly,  such self-regulation can address privacy concerns without interfering with, innovation,  which benefits consumers by delivering paychecks,  savings,  and exciting, products and services., Finally,  as the Administration works to advance voluntary codes of conduct,  we are, concerned that new legislation in the area of consumer privacy could undermine future, efforts for successful voluntary practices.

American Advertising Federation
American Association of Advertising Agencies
American Business Media
Association of National Advertisers
Consumer Electronics Association
Coalition for Healthcare Communication
Direct Marketing Association
Financial Services Roundtable
Interactive Advertising Bureau
National Retail Federation
NetChoice
Online Publishers Association
Performance Marketing Association
Toy Industry Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce