Bill would force Web sites to delete personal info

The proposal, introduced Wednesday by Rep. Ed Markey, seeks to import European-style privacy regulations by imposing a broad data-deletion requirement. It would apply to every U.S. Web site, even ones run by individuals, bloggers or nonprofit groups and charities.

Markey said the measure would help stop identity theft. "This warehoused personal information about consumers' Internet use should not be needlessly stored to await compromise by data thieves or fraudsters, or disclosure through judicial fishing expeditions," the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement.

Also, Markey said, the bill would help address the issue of search engines storing data about their customers' search terms, a subject that received attention when the Department of Justice subpoenaed Google, Yahoo and other sites for such information.

It's not clear whether Markey's proposal, called the Eliminate Warehousing of Consumer Internet Data Act of 2006, would have much of an effect on attorneys seeking search terms through a subpoena. The bill defines personal information as including name, home address, e-mail address, telephone number and so on, but it doesn't include search terms or Internet addresses.

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