Understanding efforts to boost FTC funding, privacy powers

The Washington Post reports on the details of U.S. Congressional Democrats' motives to pass proposed funding for a new privacy and data security division at the Federal Trade Commission. The proposed $1 billion funding boost, approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday, amounts to a compromise among Democrats after some favored an independent privacy regulator over enhancing the FTC's powers. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said the proposed funding is "short of an independent agency, but I think it’s a big step in the right direction."