In a letter following the first complaint to the FTC, the CDT asked the commission to ignore the privacy groups' criticisms.

FORBES: Ask.com's Search Policy Splits Privacy Groups

CDT, gas up, eat lunch and arrive at Hayward by 4 p.m.

FORBES: Bleary-Eyed In Bozeman

But the CDT and FO unions - which have called a number of widespread strikes across France in protest at pension reforms - are refusing to sign up.

BBC: French festivals hit by strikes

Ask's Nicholas Graham, meanwhile, claims that IAC's donation to the CDT was intended to earn Ask.com a seat at the discussion about how to improve search privacy, not to buy the CDT's loyalty.

FORBES: Ask.com's Search Policy Splits Privacy Groups

That reopened the battle in Yokohama, with CDT staff counsel Alan Davidson and Common Cause general counsel Don Simon lobbying meeting participants, board members and anyone else who would listen to their pitch to oppose the staff plan.

CNN: Group overseeing Internet changes sets its election rules

There also need to be technical solutions that make it easier for people to read privacy notices online so they can determine whether the Web site is as secure as they want it to be, said Schwartz of the CDT.

CNN: Is the e-commerce boom fueling security holes?