Copyright 1999 Boston Herald Inc.
The Boston Herald
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January 26, 1999 Tuesday ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: FINANCE; Pg. 023
LENGTH: 378 words
HEADLINE:
Intel moves to counter critics
BYLINE: By TODD WALLACK
BODY:
Intel Corp. bowed to civil liberties
advocates yesterday, saying it will modify enabling software for forthcoming
computer chips so that they won't send out individual identifying codes over the
Internet, unless users want them to.
Intel's swift move to counter
critics brought praise from U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden). Friday,
Markey joined the groups to complain that Intel's original design of Pentium III
enabling software could allow Web sites to read the unique identification
numbers embedded on each one - potentially allowing Web operators to track Net
surfers.
Intel designed the feature and software to help on-line
merchants and users authenticate transactions over the Internet. The software
was initially designed to automatically turn on the identifying feature. But
Intel, whose microprocessors power most PCs, agreed yesterday to alter the
software so the feature will normally be turned off. Consumers can switch it on
whenever they encounter a Web site that asks for the data.
"I think
Intel made the right decision," Markey said yesterday. But he added that
consumers still need protection to make sure that Web sites don't misuse
information collected voluntarily. Markey said he plans to reintroduce an
on-line privacy "bill of rights" in two weeks.
When Intel unveiled the
new technology last week, the chip maker said it could be a boon for electronic
commerce by helping shoppers feel more secure and cutting down on fraud. "This
is a feature that has been requested for years by many customers," said Intel
spokesman Tom Waldrop.
Waldrop said the program should be included on
many personal computers equipped with the new chips, due to ship later this
quarter.
The decision to change the software came just hours after two
advocacy groups, the Washington-based Electronic Privacy Information Center and
Junkbusters Corp. of Green Brook, N.J., launched a boycott.
Intel's move
left privacy advocates dissatisfied. "You still have the problem of an ID
number, and Web sites can force people to disclose that ID number as a condition
to get into the sites," complained David Banisar of EPIC. "Just having a
software patch does not resolve the underlying concerns."
Herald wire
services contributed to this report.
LOAD-DATE: January
26, 1999 
