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Trade Commission begins online privacy workshop
June 10, 1997
Web posted at: 10:51 a.m. EDT (1451 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Federal Trade Commission begins a four-day workshop Tuesday on Internet privacy to address concerns that Web sites are gathering personal information on users without their knowledge or consent.
In advance of the workshop, the Electronic Privacy Information Center released a report saying that about half of the World Wide Web's most popular sites collect personal information in some manner. The report was timed to underscore privacy advocates' growing concerns that computer users need more protection.
Tuesday's session focuses on computer databases. In conjunction with the workshop, eight database companies were preparing to announce that they would limit the information they gather and make available to their clients.
The companies agreed to limit the distribution of private information, such as Social Security numbers, to government agencies and other groups that they deem to have a legitimate need for the data, industry representatives told The Washington Post.
The companies also agreed not to augment their databases with information from private marketing databases, the newspaper reported in Tuesday's editions.
The companies involved in the initiative were Lexis-Nexis, CDB Infotek, Database Technology, Experian, First Data InfoSource/Donnelley Marketing, Information America, IRSC and Metromail.
FTC sessions later this week will cover consumer online privacy, unsolicited commercial mail and children's online privacy.
Related stories:
- From privacy to spamming, Web survey probes users' concerns - December 11, 1996
- Guarding privacy tougher as Internet expands - September 19, 1996
Related sites:
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- "Public Workshop on Consumer Information Privacy"
- American Civil Liberties Union: Cyber-liberties
- Electronic Privacy Information Center - established to focus public attention on emerging civil liberties issues relating to the National Information Infrastructure.
- Internet Privacy Coalition - formed to promote privacy and security on the Internet through widespread public availability of strong encryption and the relaxation of export controls on cryptography.
- EPIC Alert - online newsletter of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, DC. The newsletter is bi-weekly and covers issues related to privacy and civil liberties in the information age.
- Internet Privacy Law - An analysis of legal issues associated with privacy and anonymity.
- TRUSTe Home Page - coalition to protect privacy & promote security online.
- Privacy in the Information Age: The Web Magazine - A look into what personal information is available and to whom.
Related newsgroup:
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- alt.privacy - privacy issues in cyberspace.
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