Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) Sends Letter to Amazon.com Re: Privacy and Kindle Fire

UPDATE: Questions for Amazon on Privacy and the Kindle Fire (via NY Times)
From Congressman Markey’s News Release:

“Markey to Amazon: Don’t Hold a Kindle Fire Sale on Privacy”
Concerned that the pairing of the new Kindle Fire tablet with its must-use Silk browser means Amazon could track each Web click of Kindle Fire users Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to Amazon’s CEO asking for responses to questions about tablets users’ privacy and security.
A recent New York Times story reported that Amazon could collect and utilize information about its users’ Kindle Fire Internet surfing and buying habits through the combination of its new tablet and browser, including which items users buy and how much they pay on sites across the Internet.
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In the letter, Rep. Markey asked Amazon to respond to questions that include:

• What information does Amazon plan to collect about users of the Kindle Fire?
• Does Amazon plan to sell, rent or otherwise make available this customer information to outside companies?
• How does Amazon plan to disclose its privacy policy to Fire and Silk users
• If Amazon plans to collect information about its users’ Internet browsing habits, will customers be able to affirmatively opt in to participate in the data sharing program?

Read the Complete News Release
Direct to Full Text of Letter From Markey to Amazon.com Founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos (PDF)
See Also:  eBooks, Privacy, and the Library (via INFOdocket (9/27/11))

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