An article in yesterday's Washington Post reported that the federal government has begun to reconsider its ban on the use of cookies by federal agency web sites. Instead of banning cookies, the government may implement other user privacy safeguards. Critics of the move wonder if it is motivated by requests from private companies such as Google. An OMB-initiated comment period for the possible policy change closed on Monday, Aug. 10.

For more information, see Spencer S. Hsu and Cecilia Kang, U.S. Web-Tracking Plan Stirs Privacy Fears, Wash. Post Online, Aug. 11, 2009, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/10/AR2009081002743_pf.html, and the OMB's request for comments (now closed), available from Regulations.gov.