The Obama administration released recommendations Thursday to better protect consumer privacy on the Internet, creating baseline guidelines for how companies treat user data and emboldening federal agencies to enforce privacy protections.

A consumers' "Privacy Bill of Rights" would create a privacy policy office in the Commerce Department and for the first time would establish clear guidelines for what kind of information can be collected about users and how companies can use the data, a Commerce report says. That framework also gives clearer limitations on data use and would increase audits to hold companies accountable for their practices.

The report, which follows similar guidlines released weeks ago by the Federal Trade Commission, comes amid the growing concerns of lawmakers, consumers and privacy groups that Internet users are increasingly giving more information about their preferences and personal profiles without adequate protections.

"Self-regulation without stronger enforcement is not enough," said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in a statement. "Today's report is a road map for considering a new framework that is good for consumers and businesses."

At the same time, the agency said it wants input from Web companies and advertisers who have resisted legislation or new rules that would hamper their activity online.

"This is the first time that the administration has emphasized the need for comprehensive privacy protections, and that as of today it is a Wild Wild West out there for consumers and their privacy," said Chris Calabrese, legislative counsel at the ACLU. "We hope it will lead to strong administrative protections but Congress needs to act."