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 PRIVACY
LINKS AND RESOURCES
The primary mission
of the Privacy Partnership 2000 campaign, as well as TRUSTe's ongoing
mission, is to promote consumer understanding of online privacy issues
and equip you with the information you need to control your information
online to protect your privacy. This site has been designed to give you
the basic knowledge you need to make informed choices about online transactions.
We have also compiled
this list of online consumer and government resources to help you learn
more about your privacy options. Remember, it's your voice and your choice
that will shape the future of privacy issues on the Internet. We're here
to help you with all the information, tips, and tools you need. Happy
researching!
CONSUMER
RESOURCES
GOVERNMENT
RESOURCES
TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS
CONSUMER
RESOURCES
Online
Privacy Oversight Programs
TRUSTe (www.truste.org)
Leading online privacy "seal" program. The TRUSTe Web site offers the
latest advice, and information about online privacy. TRUSTe Privacy Seal,
or"Trustmark," program awards seals to responsible Web sites that meet
stringent privacy policy requirements and enforcement criteria. Licensed
Web sites are required to post privacy statements that give full disclosure,
meaningful choice, reasonable access and security.
CPA WEBTRUST (www.cpawebtrust.org)
CPA firms verify security systems of participating Web sites every 90
days and award icons of approval.
Advocacy
Organizations
American Civil Liberties
Union, or ACLU (www.aclu.org)
The American Civil Liberties Union advocates individual rights by litigating,
legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting
individual freedom in the United States. They are a founding member of
the Global Internet Liberty Campaign (GILC), an international coalition
of organizations dedicated to protecting freedom of speech and the right
to privacy in cyberspace. The Web site provides useful tips and tools
for consumers.
Consumer @ction
(www.consumer-action.org)
Consumer Action is a non-profit, membership-based organization that was
founded in San Francisco in 1971. Throughout its 26 years, Consumer Action
has continued to serve consumers nationwide by advancing consumer rights,
referring consumers to complaint-handling agencies through its free hotline,
publishing multilingual educational materials, advocating for consumers
in the media and before lawmakers.
Center for Democracy
and Technology, or CDT (www.cdt.org)
The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic values
and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise in law,
technology, and policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to enhance free
expression and privacy in global communications technologies. CDT is dedicated
to building consensus among all parties interested in the future
of the Internet and other new communications media. CDT also offers its
"Operation Opt-Out," which allows users to easily generate form
letters to be taken out of mailing lists.
Electronic Privacy
Information Center (EPIC) (www.epic.org)
A nonprofit organization established to focus public attention on emerging
civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, the First Amendment, and
constitutional values. On the Web site, consumers can subscribe to the
EPIC Alert newsletter and get the history behind the government regulation
debate.
Electronic Frontier
Foundation, or EFF (www.eff.org)
A nonprofit organization working to guarantee that all civil liberties
are protected on the Internet and in all digital communication arenas.
EFF provides a free telephone hotline for questions regarding legal rights,
and will answer your technical (e.g. "How do I connect to the Internet?")
and legal (e.g. "Does my boss have the right to read my e-mail?") questions
via telephone, snail mail, and e-mail.
National Fraud Information
Center, or NFIC (www.fraud.org)
A nationwide toll-free hotline for advice on telephone solicitations and
how to report telemarketing fraud. The Internet Fraud Watch section provides
tips, articles, bulletins, and other information on how
to avoid fraud, protect your privacy, and surf the Internet safely and
enjoyably.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse,
or PRC (www.privacyrights.org)
PRC publications give you in-depth information on a broad range of privacy
issues. Also includes a section on identity theft resources.
Business
Watch Organizations
Better Business
Bureau, or BBB (www.bbb.org)
BBBOnLine is an authenticated and verified "seal" program that helps consumers
find reliable companies that pledge to meet tough advertising and dispute
settlement standards, including responsible advertising to children.
Credit
Reports and Credit Cards
Equifax (www.equifax.com)
One of the three major national credit reporting agencies. You can order
a copy of your credit report online or off, read fraud FAQs, and find
out how to report credit card misuse or remove your name from pre-approved
credit card offer mailing lists.
Experian (formerly
TRW, www.experian.com)
One of the three major national credit reporting agencies. You can order
a copy of your credit report online or off, and find out how to report
credit card misuse or remove your name from pre-approved credit card offer
mailing lists. Also offers a comprehensive look at direct-mail marketing.
Federal Trade Commission's
Sample Opt-Out Letter (www.ftc.gov/privacy/cred-ltr.htm)
A downloadable form that speaks to the three national credit reporting
agencies (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union). Use it to request that
your personal credit report information not be shared with third parties.
Trans Union Corporation
(www.tuc.com)
One of the three major national credit reporting agencies. You can order
a copy of your credit report online or off, and find out how to report
credit card misuse or remove your name from pre-approved credit card offer
mailing lists.
Fraud Victim page has information on credit card scams, and the Marketing
List Opt-Out section tells you how to delete your name from junk mail
lists.
Fraud
and Identity Theft
Better Business
Bureau, or BBB See Business Watch Organizations.
Equifax
See Credit Reports and Credit Cards
Experian
See Credit Reports and Credit Cards
Internet Fraud Watch
(www.fraud.org)
A special branch
of the National Fraud Information Center Web site. Provides tips, articles,
bulletins, and other information on how to avoid fraud, protect your privacy,
and surf the Internet safely and enjoyably.
National Fraud Information
Center, or NFIC See Advocacy Organizations
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse,
or PRC See Advocacy Organizations
Trans Union Corporation
See Credit Reports and Credit Cards
Hotlines
Call for Action
(www.callforaction.org)
An international network of free consumer hotlines to assist you in resolving
and mediating consumer fraud and privacy disputes.
Electronic Frontier
Foundation, or EFF See Advocacy Organizations
National Fraud Information
Center, or NFIC See Advocacy Organizations
Junk
E-mail
Junkbusters (www.junkbusters.com)
Its mission is to "free the world from junk communications." The site
includes an array of information, resources, and publication links as
well as actionable tips and online tools to help you rid yourself of junk
e-mail, telemarketing calls, and other kinds of unwanted solicitations.
Mailshell
(www.mailshell.com)
offers
advanced protection against spam, combined with more personalization,
control, and privacy than any other service. Advanced filtering
technology and a full range of features let you stop spam from
reaching any of your email accounts and create an unlimited number
of disposable email addresses to permanently and accurately block
spam from any source without affecting the rest of your email.
You can even set up different levels of filtering for different
purposes.
The Spamex
(www.spamex.com)
Disposable Email Address Service allows users to identify the
sources of and stop the non-permission use (spam, UCE, UBE, etc.)
of their email addresses. The Service works by providing users
with Disposable Email Addresses ("DEAs") that forward
email to their Real Email Address. If non-permission use email
is received the DEA that was used can be instantly identified
and turned off.
Opting
Out
Direct Marketing
Association, or DMA (www.the-dma.org)
Offers information on online marketing protections and advice on getting
rid of unsolicited commercial e-mail. The consumer section tells you how
to delete your name from e-mail marketing lists and includes
downloadable forms. A peer review process acts on consumer complaints
about DMA members and nonmembers.
Federal Trade Commission's
Sample Opt-Out Letter See Credit Reports and Credit Cards
Operation Opt-Out
(www.opt-out.cdt.org)
An initiative launched by the Center for Democracy and Technology. This
Web site offers downloadable opt-out forms, links to companies that allow
you to opt-out online, and overview of specific business practices such
as those of portals and online profilers.
Trans Union Corporation
See Credit Reports and Credit Cards
Parents
and Children
America Links Up
(www.americalinksup.org)
is a public awareness and education campaign sponsored by a broad-based
coalition of non-profits, education groups, and corporations concerned
with providing children with a safe and rewarding experience online. This
site contains a number of valuable resources for parents and kids, and
offers a way for individuals and groups to get involved nationwide by
planning or attending teach-ins.
Center for Media
Education (www.cme.org)
A non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of electronic
media, especially on the behalf of children and families. The Center for
Media Education is involved in investigating the children's online marketplace.
Web site includes information about "Interactions: CME's research initiative
on children and new media."
Children's Advertising
Review Unit (CARU) (www.bbb.org/advertising/childrensmonitor.asp)
A unit of the Council of Better Business Bureau, CARU was the first organization
to develop self-regulatory guidelines for businesses advertising to children
online. Intended to provide voluntary standards for the protection of
children under the age of 12, CARU's guidelines include the disclosure
of what information is being collected and its intended uses, and the
opportunity for the consumer to withhold consent for information collection
for marketing purposes.
The Federal Trade
Commission's Kidz Privacy site (www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/index.html)
An educational Web site produced by the FTC surrounding the enactment
of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. This site offers guidance
to parents and children, as well as Web site operators, on the dos and
don’ts of children’s online privacy.
GetNetWise (www.getnetwise.org).
GetNetWise is a resource for families and caregivers to help kids have
safe, educational, and entertaining online experiences. The Web site includes
a glossary of Internet terms, a guide to online safety, directions for
reporting online trouble, a directory of online safety tools, and a listing
great sites for kids to visit.
Media Awareness
Network (www.media-awareness.ca)
A Canadian-based online resource for media and web literacy-industry online
privacy for parents, educators, and youth. Media Awareness Network has
developed Privacy Playground, an interactive children's game on safe surfing
(available at web site)..
Online Public Education
Network, or Project OPEN (www.internetalliance.org/project-open/about.html)
was founded in 1996 as a partnership of the Internet Alliance, the National
Consumers League and leading Internet companies to help consumers get
the most out of going online. Two guides, "How to Get the Most Out of
Going Online" and "Child Safety on the Information Highway," are particularly
helpful for online novices and specific tips about parental empowerment.
Wired Kids (www.wiredkids.org),
the official North American site of UNESCO’s Innocence in Danger program.
The site is under the direction of Internet lawyer and children’s advocate
Parry Aftab. The site’s mission is to allow children to enjoy the vast
benefits of the Internet while at the same time protecting them from cybercriminals.
The Web site will soon host a parent registry, allowing for quickly accessible
verifiable parental consent.
CyberAngels (www.cyberangels.org)
CyberAngels describes itself as "your cyber-neighborhood watch."
The organization finds and reports illegal material online, educates families
about online safety, works with schools and libraries, and shares basic
Internet tips and help resources. While Cyberangels does not advocate
censorship or regulation of the Internet, the organization does support
the COPPA rules.
Privacy
Enhancing Technologies
Privaseek (www.privaseek.com).
Founded in 1998, PrivaSeek™ designs, builds, and manages systems
and services that bring businesses and consumers together in a mutually
beneficial, permission-based environment. PrivaSeek's primary technology,
Persona™, is a control tool that enables consumers to automatically
safeguard and gain value from the use of personal information. Persona
acts as a buffer between consumers and Web sites, allowing users to decide
which information can be shared. Persona also allows you to store that
information for use on the Web safely and securely.
Junkbusters (www.junkbusters.com)
Its mission is to "free the world from junk communications." The site
includes an array of information, resources, and publication links as
well as actionable tips and online tools to help you rid yourself of junk
e-mail, telemarketing calls, and other kinds of unwanted solicitations.
Zero-Knowledge Systems
(www.zeroknowledge.com)
Zero-Knowledge Systems designs tools and strategies to protect the privacy
of Internet users in order to lay the foundations for trust and commerce
between individuals and the companies, governments and organizations they
interact with online. Zero-Knowledge creates simple, easy-to-use software
and services that integrate advanced mathematics, cryptography and source
code. The company’s Freedom software allows users to surf the Web anonymously
and has been engineered so that no one, including Zero-Knowledge, can
readily ascertain a Freedom user's true identity or decrypt their communications.
Hush Communications
(www.hush.com)
Hush was founded to develop and distribute encryption technology over
the Internet. Hush's mission is to provide Internet users with secure
Internet communications worldwide. HushMail.Com and HushMail Private Label
allow users to protect the privacy of their email and Web site traffic.
Lumeria (www.lumeria.com)
Lumeria’s technology allows people to organize, securely access, and selectively
share their information from any personal electronic device or computer
that is connected to the net. Lumeria’s Personal Knowledge Management
products help individuals securely organize their information and knowledge.
The company’s Identity Management products help individuals maintain one
or more identities privately and securely that they can access from any
device connected to the net.
PrivacyX (www.privacyx.com)
PrivacyX is an Internet privacy solution that helps Internet users to
take control of their online privacy. Currently the company has a free
anonymous encrypted email service that is available to users. The service
allows users to send and receive email with complete privacy and security.
GOVERNMENT
RESOURCES
Federal Trade Commission,
or FTC (www.ftc.gov)
The FTC provides a wealth of information on current privacy legislation
and related government news. Several sections of the site are especially
relevant to online users:
- Online Category
of Publications Consumer
and Business Education (www.ftc.gov/privacy/con-ed.htm)
A list of FTC publications that address personal information collection,
online activities, and other consumer protection issues.
- "Site Seeing on
the Internet: a Traveler's Guide to Cyberspace" See Parents and Children
- Sample Opt-Out
Letter See Credit Reports and Credit Cards
National Telecommunications
& Information Administration, or NTIA (www.ntia.doc.gov)
An agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, this is a primary source
for domestic and international telecommunications and information technology
issues, including the scoop on federal Privacy Protection Acts. Includes
a listing of links to a range of privacy-related institutions and organizations.
U.S. Consumer Gateway
(www.consumer.gov)
A "one-stop" consumer site for a wide variety of federal information resources
online, arranged by category such as product safety, food, health, and
money. An FTC-sponsored section is devoted to privacy, with guidance on
how to prohibit companies from using your credit records for direct marketing,
and removing your name from direct-mail and telemarketing lists.
TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS
Direct Marketers
Association, See Opt-Out
Association for
Interactive Media, or AIM (www.interactivehq.org)
AIM is the non-profit trade association for business users of the Internet.
Its members are companies that are committed to maximizing the value of
the Net to businesses and consumers.
AIM's mission centers
on these three important areas: 1) Defending the industry in Washington;
2) Promoting consumer confidence; and 3) Providing business-to-business
networking opportunities.
Online Privacy Alliance
(www.privacyalliance.org)
The Online Privacy Alliance is a diverse group of corporations and associations
who have come together to introduce and promote business-wide actions
that create an environment of trust and foster the protection of individuals'
privacy online.
NetCoalition (www.netcoalition.com)
NetCoalition brings together many of the world’s leading Internet companies
and serves as a unified public policy voice on Internet issues. NetCoalition
is committed to building user confidence in the Internet through responsible
market-driven policies; preserving the open and competitive environment
that has allowed the Internet to flourish; and ensuring the continued
vitality of the Internet through active dialogue with policymakers.
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