Opening statements of Boucher and Stearns.

Stearns spending some time on the consumer choice through robust notice. Also discussing profiling and services vs. the information collected. Brings up the very interesting issue of what agency should be the chief regulator of privacy. FTC, FCC or some new entity.

Zack Space opening statement. Best quote "one bad apples could spoil the bunch."

Joe Barton spends time talking about the charity R vs. D baseball game last night. Barton is the co-chair of the House Privacy Caucus. Interesting comments about deleting the cookis on his home and office computers and how he does not like being tracked or followed on the net. Right to know what information is being collected and right to know what is being done with it. Talks about technological solutions to privacy problems. Refers to Yahoo!, Google as edge companies in the Wild West online and that it is time to bring a little law and order to the environment.

Matsui brief opening statement. Upton's opening statement echo's Barton. Informtaion belongs to the consumer. Whitfield's opening statement very brief. Pitts argues that blance should be struck between privacy protection and needs of commerce. Blackburn notes the growth of behavioral advertising and the need of the subcommittee to look at this issue to protect the privcacy of consumers. Details three important issues for the committee.
1.) What are we regulating?
2.) What agency is most appropriate to oversee this area?
3.) Who would the committee not regulate?

Scalise: Regulation bad, companies good. Self-regulation is the way to go.