CDT Applauds Legislation to Protect Privacy in Cyberspace

For Immediate Release
June 20, 1996

The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) commends Congressman Markey (D-MA) on the introduction of the Communications Privacy and Consumer Empowerment Act (CPCEA). The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission to ensure that the developing communications infrastructure supports the core privacy principles of notice and individual control. The FTC is currently examining privacy on the Internet. The CPCEA directs the FTC and FCC to report their findings to Congress within one year and directs each to issue rules where they find a lack of privacy protection.

Currently few people are aware of the vast amount of personal information generated and captured -- and potentially used and disclosed -- during the use of interactive communications media. Most individuals visit Web sites, read articles, and examine pictures under the false illusion that their activities are anonymous or at least unobserved. In an effort to increase public demand for privacy protection, CDT recently launched a privacy demonstration Web site -- http://snoop.cdt.org/ -- which greets each visitor with detailed personal information including their name, email address, computer and browser type and the universal resource locator (URL) indicating the Web site from which they came.

While interactive media offers new challenges to privacy, CDT believes that the development and implementation of technologies that empower users of interactive communications media to affirmatively control personal information can fundamentally shift the balance of power between the individual and those seeking information. CDT believes this technological shift is possible and necessary, and offers us an unprecedented opportunity to advance individual privacy. However, this shift will only occur if interactive media is harnessed to advance individual privacy.

The CPCEA strongly embodies this approach. It looks to Government as the ultimate guarantor of core privacy principles of notice and informed consent regarding personal information collection and dissemination on the information highway, but adopts a process which looks to the private sector and consumer and privacy organizations to work together to develop standards, practices and individual control technologies---such as the Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS), cyberpatrol, and surfwatch--- to empower people to control personal information about themselves during interactions with commercial and non-commercial entities online. As Jerry Berman, CDT Executive Director stated, "It is designed to provide strong privacy protection, but avoid centralized, burdensome data board solutions which could cripple the Internet and threaten free speech rights with the creation of a veritable 'Privacy Exon'."

"Rather than responding to the very real risks posed by new technology with the Luddite-call of "smash the machine," we are calling for a reversal of the technological status quo by demanding that technology be designed to empower people. We are pleased that Congressman Markey recognizes the unique potential of the Internet to advance individual control over personal information," said CDT Deputy Director Janlori Goldman.

CDT hails the introduction of the CPCEA, and believes that if enacted it will help to spur all content providers and access providers to establish the important privacy principles of "Knowledge, Notice, and No" as rules of the road for the Digital Age.

For more information, contact CDT at 202-637-9800.

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