The issue known as “Do Not Track” – which would somehow prevent Internet users from getting monitored on which sites they visit – is getting attention from the government, industry and media this week.

On Thursday, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on the Do Not Track issue. The committee is expected to hear testimony from Federal Trade Commission Consumer Chief David Vladeck, TimeWarner Cable, Symantec (News - Alert), Eben Moglen, Susan Grant, and Dan Castro.

In addition, the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) is sponsoring a meeting this week that addresses issues on responsible data practices.

At the FPF meeting, Lotame Solutions will discuss new privacy management tools, and the risks in trying to set up a government-sponsored “Do Not Track” mechanism or list. In addition, Mozilla (News - Alert) will explain plans for privacy management in the Firefox web browser. 

Danny Weitzner of the Department of Commerce/NTIA will speak on several privacy issues.

When it comes to the issue of the Do Not Track List, in 2007 the World Privacy Forum and other groups proposed that the FTC (News - Alert) create such a list.

That proposal would have required advertising entities that “set a persistent identifier” to give domain names of their servers to the FTC, according to the FPF.

Users would be able to download the list and use plug-ins to make sure the domains did not track them as they surf the web, says the FPF.

In 2010, the Center for Democracy and Technology and the FPF met with companies, trade groups, browser companies and advocacy groups about improving opt-out measures.

Ideas included plug-ins and using an opt-out header to replace the opt-out cookie, the FPF said.

During this year, many policymakers have indicated support for a Do Not Track mechanism, says the FPF. The FTC is expected to support Do Not Track in its upcoming privacy report, FPF added.

There have been some improvements from those in the industry already, according to the FPF.

The Network Advertising Initiative and a coalition of industry groups, known as the Digital Advertising Association, provide a location on the Web where users can select to opt-out of most ad networks, says the FPF. Companies involved with behavioral advertising will also soon have a centralized opt-out site, the FPF adds.

In addition, Chris Soghoian has created TACO, a Firefox plug-in which opts-out users from most ad networks. It collects the needed opt-out cookies and protects them, says FPF. Lotame began offering users TACO, in addition to more routine cookie opt-out. Abine, an online privacy company, has incorporated TACO into a free suite of user privacy tools, FPF says.

Increasing media attention has been paid to the issue, as well.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Mozilla, which makes the Firefox Web browser, is looking to create a do-not-track mechanism.

Online advertising company Lotame Solutions Inc. is supporting efforts for an industry-created do-not-track mechanism, the Journal adds.

TMCnet reports that Consumer Watchdog will present a panel on "The Future of Online Consumer Protections” between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., on Wednesday. It will be held at National Press Club.