E-retailers believe that the Internet’s unique ability to collect names, addresses and buying habits of consumers is one of the medium’s greatest strengths. But recent developments indicate that such a capability is drawing greater regulatory attention.

The FTC filed a complaint against Toysmart.com in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts seeking a preliminary injunction to block the company from selling consumers’ profile data, product preferences, billing information and family profiles “including the names and birthdates of children.” Toysmart.com’s own privacy statement, still posted when the case was filed, promised that such information is “never shared.”.