After months of growing pressure from federal administrators, a coalition of major internet companies and trade groups has announced stricter guidelines for how consumer information is collected online. The standards are an effort to self-regulate, therefore staving off any government-imposed policies.

A report titled "Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising" was released on Thursday, and the guidelines will go into effect in 2010, according to The New York Times. Major companies involved in the report include internet power players like Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo, along with service providers such as Verizon.

Under the new standards, members must inform consumers, either with an ad or website, that their behavioral information is being collected. The gathering of "sensitive data" -- information related to finances or health -- must now be approved by consumers.

The report also includes a system for enforcing the new policies and maintaining a level playing field. Both competitors and consumers will be able to directly report any company that violates the new protocols.