A public interest group fired off a public letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FCC) today, asking that it use its subpoena power to get access to marketer research studies to help determine if - heaven forefend - online data collection actually succeeds in helping (the evil) advertisers to reach kids and tweens. It also called on the ad industry to place a moratorium "on all interactive techniques that - in the absence of independent research suggesting otherwise - could potentially harm or negatively affect children and youth."

While the letter is ludicrous on its face, it does show an interesting example of privacy concerns being twisted to suit older agendas, such as a general dislike of advertising, particularly to children.