Adobe’s Flash Player includes a local storage feature that enables websites and applications to remember consumer data, such as log-in credentials and form information.  However, media and data companies’ use of this feature, which is sometimes referred to as a “Flash cookie,” has been the subject of a number of recent lawsuits.  Specifically, plaintiffs allege that defendants used the local storage feature to keep regular HTTP cookies alive, even after a user deleted them.  

Earlier this week, Adobe announced that it is taking steps to improve consumers’ control over the information that is stored in local storage.  This move follows the FTC’s request in its recently released preliminary staff report for companies to “create better tools to allow consumers to control the collection and use of their online browsing data.”  Adobe’s announcement is another example that industry is taking the FTC’s call for “do-not-track” mechanisms seriously.