This is the VOA Special English Technology Report.

The Obama Administration last week announced the plan to protect Internet users in the United States. The Administration has (proposed) what they call a consumer privacy bill of rights.

The bill is meant to give the Americans more control over their personal information. President Obama said last Thursday that never has been privacy more important than today in the age of Internet, the Worldwide Web and (smart phones).

Under the privacy bill of rights, Americans would have more control over what personal data companies collect from them and how they use it. It also would require the companies to be open about their (privacy and security) policies. Darren Heys is the head of Computer Information’s System Program at Pace University in New York. He says many countries in Europe and Asia already have (online privacy laws) in place.

“I think that, you know, the legislation is just, is long overdue, I think that in its present form it looks very effective. And I think that it is stuffed with right direction and every online users does meet more (transparency) and more control over the use of their information.”

Professor Hays says the consumer privacy bill of rights holds companies like Facebook and Google to a higher level of responsibility.

“I think in practical terms, it's going to make online companies more (accountable) for what they do. It also seeks to provide more transparency about how their parties a sharing their information and give the user hopefully the ability to opt out of their information shared."

The new measures are part of larger government effort to improve online privacy. The administration has urged congress to pass (federal legislation) in support of the measures. It also warns law makers to give the federal trade commission and state eternity its general additional powers to enforce the measures.

Professor Hays says the (effectiveness) of the bill will depend strongly on that.

“What also going to import the budget legislation are the penalties of fine, so we will ultimately be imposed from noncompliance.”

Also, last week, a group of Internet browser companies agreed to support plans for adding do not track technology to their web browsers. The group agreed not to use tracking information to (target) personalized ads to users who do not wish to be (identified). The companies will, however, still collect the information.

And that's the VOA Special English Technology Report.