Privacy Resources for Consumers

Although companies and other entities operating in the online or electronic commerce environment have a responsibility to ensure the privacy of personally identifiable information online, the Online Privacy Alliance believes that consumers also have a role to play.

Consumers should look for privacy policies on the web sites they visit as well as be aware of the various self-enforcement mechanisms currently available. Online Privacy gives you the power to control the release of your personal and financial information over the Internet. Check out the growing range of new technological tools available to help you control the information you share, surf anonymously, and remove your name from e-mailing lists. The resources listed below are intended to help consmers evaluate the privacy policies and self-enforcement mechanisms they encounter online.

• Guidelines for Effective Privacy Policies Produced by the Online Privacy Alliance, these guildines outline policies for protecting individually identifiable information in an online or electronic commerce environment. In some cases, customization and enhancement of these guidelines will be necessarry to address specific business or industry sector considerations.

• Guidelines for Effective Enforcement of Self-Regulation Produced by the Online Privacy Alliance, these guidelines provide a framework for enforcing the protection of consumer privacy in cyberspace.

• Principles for Children's Online Activities Produced by the Online Privacy Alliance, these principles describe appropriate practices regarding the online collection and use of personally identifiable information from children under 13.

• Call For Action's "ABC's of Online Privacy" Call For Action, a non-profit consumer group, has some tips for consumers as they journey through cyberspace -- stay informed. Call For Action suggests that you keep in mind their ABC's of Online Privacy.