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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
- Online Privacy Oversight Organizations
- Advocacy Organizations
- Business Watch Organizations
- Credit Reports and Credit Cards
- Fraud and Identity Theft
- Hotlines
- Junk E-mail
- Opting Out
- Parents and Children
- Privacy Enhancing Technologies
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.