[yumraj]

I agree with a lot of posts below. However, my absolutely biggest worry is that it will allow these companies to get even more personally identifying information about the user than they probably have today since they will have to compensate them monetarily.

For example, they will/may start asking for address, phone number, real DoB and SSN for tax reporting purposes since this would be an income. If I have multiple gmail/FB/... accounts I may have to drop some or provide the same information for those, basically removing any doubt that I'm the owner of those and so and so forth.

Moreover, since this won't be limited to Google & FB, almost any service which collects data, which would be everyone, would potentially have to ask you for this information before they let you create an account. It may lead to the complete loss of anonymity on the Internet.

[r00fus]

> For example, they will/may start asking for address, phone number, real DoB and SSN for tax reporting purposes since this would be an income.

As I see it Hertzberg's proposal that Newsom announced would be the state collecting on behalf of the recipient. I would hope this could be done without providing identifying information.

The alternative proposal that companies pay users directly for their data is the one we should be wary of, as you're correct - companies would need your info to pay you. It was put in the article as a byline but didn't have any supporting commentary.