How much information do you collect about your customers? The FTC has real concerns that social networks and other online companies are over-stepping the boundaries as they collect customer data. Datamation.com has more details.

As the Federal Trade Commission concludes a series of public workshops into the privacy implications of Internet advertising and data collection, senior commission officials on Wednesday reiterated their concerns that Web companies are overreaching when it comes to collecting personally identifiable information, or PII.

"The march of technology has blurred and indeed threatens to obliterate the distinction between PII and non-personal information," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "On the Web, at least, it is getting harder and harder to choose anonymity."

Today's proceeding is the last of a series of three roundtables the FTC has held since December, calling on a broad array of industry representatives, consumer advocates and others as it mulls updating its self-regulatory guidelines for behavioral targeting and online advertising.

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