Consumers may soon have new tools to protect their privacy online.

On Wednesday, the federal government released a much-anticipated report advocating safeguards for online privacy, including a “do not track” list, which would keep browsers’ web surfing private. The list would be similar to the “do not call” list that has helped curb telemarketing phone calls.

David Vladeck, director of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection, said Wednesday that consumers bear too heavy a burden for protecting themselves online. He said the FTC has grown frustrated with the pace of self-regulation and the escalating technological “arms race,” and that advertising networks often circumvent the privacy protections consumers use. Get the full story »