The US government is preparing to appoint a privacy czar and introduce legislation to address growing concerns over Internet privacy. The announcement is expected to come within weeks along with a report from the US Commerce Department, though at this point, the details are apparently far from being hammered out.

The government has historically taken a largely hands-off approach to online privacy, leaving the industry to self-regulate except in extreme cases. According to unnamed insiders speaking to the Wall Street Journal, however, the industry's self-regulation is no longer enough. Under the administration's proposal, role of the privacy czar would be to "guide" the debate over future legislation.

In addition to the new position, a task force has been formed in order to oversee the Commerce Department's recommendations, comprised of Commerce Department general counsel Cameron Kerry and Department of Justice assistant attorney general Christopher Schroeder.


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