The departure of Randall Rothenberg, the head of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, provides a critical opportunity for the IAB to revisit its position on protecting consumer online privacy (including Do Not Track). Under Mr. Rothenberg, the IAB lobbied Congress to restrict the FTC’s ability to protect consumers, including on privacy. With new leadership, the IAB could begin playing a more constructive role by working with consumer groups to build a consensus on federal privacy rules. Instead of confrontation and denial, we hope the online ad lobby pursues serious engagement with privacy advocates.  The IAB has become just another inside the Beltway lobbying group–and has lost credibility among many policymakers. A new IAB leader should be someone who can really help the mission of the industry by engaging in the kind of diplomacy and debate that supports the higher purposes of online advertising, digital publishing, and the public interest.
At Time, Mr. Rothenberg will now be in charge of its online ad network, which uses behavioral targeting and other interactive data techniques. How Time responds to the growing call for better consumer privacy will be one of Mr. Rothenberg’s new challenges.
