What if children used a more private Internet, where it would be harder to collect information about them and where they could erase embarrassing photos, comments and videos that could one day come back to haunt them?

That is what a group of American lawmakers proposed Thursday in joint bills that will curb the tracking of and targeted advertising to online users.

The legislation will prohibit Web giants such as Facebook and Twitter from collecting personal information, including location data, on children ages 15 and younger without that person's permission (a guardian's permission already is required for children 12 and younger).