CDT POLICY POST Volume 7, Number 16, December 18, 2001

A BRIEFING ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING CIVIL LIBERTIES ONLINE
from
THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY

CONTENTS:

(1) Privacy and Consumer Groups launch Online Resource

(2) Top Ten Ways to Protect Privacy; Toolkit Planned for 2002

(1) PRIVACY AND CONSUMER GROUPS LAUNCH ONLINE RESOURCE

CDT and other consumer groups have launched ConsumerPrivacyGuide.org at http://www.consumerprivacyguide.org, a new online resource providing consumers with tips and other information on how to take control of their personal information and better protect their privacy.

CDT and many others believe that effective privacy protection for consumers online will be built on three pillars: industry self regulation and best practices; privacy enhancing technologies ("privacy by design"); and government regulation and enforcement. All three of these depend on consumers having access to information about what their rights are and what user empowerment tools are available to them. The ConsumerPrivacyGuide is intended to fulfill this need - to tell consumers what options are currently available to them to protect their privacy by controlling the collection and use of personal information.

Joining CDT in creating and co-sponsoring the site are Common Cause, Consumer Action, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Call for Action and the National Consumers League. The list includes groups with years of experience providing direct service to consumers; they will promote the site through their outreach activities.

(2) PRIVACY TIPS AND OTHER PRACTICAL INFORMATION; TOOLKIT PLANNED FOR 2002

The site provides consumers with the essential information they need to protect themselves when using the Internet. The site is intended for Internet users of all levels of experience and all age groups. It presents information, how-to tips and resources in consumer-friendly, straightforward language, covering the following:

• A "how to" guide to protecting privacy, explaining
  • How to read a privacy policy
  • How to opt out
  • How to read your financial services privacy notice
• A list of things users can do to protect privacy online, including how to
  • Reject unnecessary cookies
  • Use anonymous remailers
  • Encrypt your email
  • Use anonymizers while browsing
• Frequently asked questions, including a primer on "cookies" and how to manage them
• Links to other available online resources, such as opt-out sites
• A glossary of Internet and privacy terms
• Information about children's privacy
• Background on existing privacy laws

While information about privacy can be found online already, the new site organizes it and serves as a central jumping off point for consumers wanting to delve deeper into specific issues. The sponsoring organizations decided to pool their efforts in order to make the privacy issue less confusing for consumers. Given the flexibility of the Net, the site can be updated regularly to respond to new technologies, new privacy threats and new privacy enhancing measures.

The next step in this collaborative effort will be the release of an online "Privacy Toolbox," expected to go live in early 2002. That site will serve as a resource for privacy enhancing technologies and online demonstrations, such as how to use features of Internet browsers to manage cookies.

Detailed information about online civil liberties issues may be found at http://www.cdt.org/.

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Policy Post 7.16 Copyright 2001 Center for Democracy and Technology