For the third time in recent years, lawmakers will take up the issue of anti-spyware legislation, an effort that's been killed twice before, writes CNET.
This time the atmosphere in Washington is different. When the bill, dubbed the SPY Act, was taken up in 2004 and 2005 it passed the House of Representatives but not the Senate, where it wasn't even voted on. Now, though, Democrats hold power in both branches and have vowed not to let the bill die a third time.

The bill would make illegal any software that collects data on users without their knowledge or maliciously takes control of their computers. Cookies and law enforcement and anti-fraud software would be exempt.

Advertisers, including industry group the Interactive Advertising Bureau, are concerned that the bill would take away tools they use to legitimately target ads to consumers.