Internet Privacy
Reports and Resources
| Topic Areas | News
EPIC Reports and Resources
- EPIC Report 94-1 Privacy
Guidelines for the National Information Infrastructure, 1994
- "Surfer Beware
III: Privacy Policies Without Privacy Protection" (1999).
- "Surfer Beware
II: Notice is Not Enough" (1998).
- EPIC Report, "Surfer
Beware: Personal Privacy and the Internet" is based on a review of the
privacy practices of top Internet web sites. The report examines the current
state of privacy policies on the Internet and includes recommendations to
protect online privacy, June 1997.
- Practical Privacy Tools.
Information on how to get PGP and other encryption programs, anonymous remailers
and other privacy enhancing technologies.
- EPIC's Online
Guide to Privacy Resources.
- Internet Privacy:
Overview and Pending Legislation (PDF), CRS Report for Congress RL31408,
updated February 6, 2003.
- Personal Privacy Protection:
The Legislative Response (PDF), CRS Report for Congress RL30671, updated
May 24, 2001.
Topic Areas
News
- EPIC Submits Comment for Online Profiling Workshop. The National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the United States
Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission held a public
workshop on "online profiling" on November 8, 1999. EPIC filed a request
to participate and submitted a comment
(PDF) on the effectiveness of industry self-regulation with regards to the
surreptitious collection of information from individuals. In the comment,
EPIC argues that -- in the absence of meaningful legal protections -- the
privacy of individuals will continue to be invaded. On November 30, EPIC also
submitted reply
comments (PDF) after the workshop. (November 1999)
- Lawsuit Filed Against Earthlink for Violating Email Privacy. A New
York man has filed a lawsuit against
ISP Earthlink for violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986.
- Academics, Advocates, Experts Call for National Conference on Privacy.
A group of more than 70 leading privacy scholars, advocates, and technical
experts have urged
the Department of Commerce to ensure that a proposed White House conference
on privacy is not dominated by special interest groups. The group says that
it is also time to assess the adequacy of "self-regulation" as a means to
protect privacy. (March 1998)
- EPIC Testifies In Congress. In testimony
on March 26, EPIC Director Marc Rotenberg told the House Judiciary Committee
that current U.S. privacy policy is backward -- "We impose government controls
on techniques to protect privacy, where market-based solutions are preferable.
And we leave privacy problems to the market, where government involvement
is required." Other testimony
from the hearing is available. (March 1998)
- Court Blocks Discharge in Navy/AOL Privacy Case. A federal judge
in Washington has enjoined the dismissal of a highly decorated sailor who
was ordered discharged after America Online turned over confidential information
to a Navy investigator (the text
of the decision is available). The ruling comes in the sailor's lawsuit
against the Navy alleging privacy violations. EPIC has sent a letter
to Navy Secretary Dalton, urging a formal inquiry into an apparently illegal
disclosure of personal information. The Navy may have violated federal law;
AOL appears to have violated its contractual obligation to protect subscriber
privacy. Write the President
and Pentagon officials!
- Internet Users Want Privacy Legislation. The latest
survey from the GVU reveals that 72% of Internet users believe there should
be new laws to protect privacy on the Internet. The survey also found that
82% of users object to the sale of personal information. The survey suggests
a sharp increase in privacy concerns since the last
GVU poll.
- "Look Up" Industry Sidesteps Regulation. The Federal Trade Commission,
which had been asked
by Congress to investigate "possible violations of consumer privacy rights
by companies that operate computer data bases," has decided instead to endorse
industry guidelines that lack enforcement and provide no legal rights
for aggrieved parties.
- FTC Finds Little Privacy for Kids on the Internet. The Federal
Trade Commission surfed children's web sites to review privacy practices
and found that many web sites are collecting data on kids and few are obtaining
parental consent.
- Consumer Groups Question FTC Report. Several privacy and consumer
organizations that participated in the FTC's Consumer Privacy Workshop have
questioned the accuracy of a preliminary
report submitted by the FTC to Senator McCain. The letter
from CFA, CME, EFF, EPIC, PRC and others says that the FTC misrepresented
a critical consumer survey that showed strong support for privacy legislation.
See the EPIC FTC archive
for general background as well as the original
letter from the Senate Commerce Committee which asked the the Commission
to "investigate the compilation, sale, and usage of electronically transmitted
data bases that include identifiable personal information of private citizens
without their knowledge."
- America Online Nixes Plan to Sell Phone Numbers. Responding to widespread
criticism, America Online has reversed its decision to sell subscriber telephone
numbers. In a quiet change to its privacy
policy, AOL had planned to add member phone numbers to the list of personal
information that it sells to direct marketers. It is unclear whether the company
intends to go forward with its plans to use "navigational" or "transactional"
information (such as where you go or what you buy through AOL) to "develop
member lists for companies with which AOL has a contractual marketing relationship."
EPIC has sent a letter
to the online service seeking clarification.
EPIC Home Page
Last updated: November 30, 1999
Page URL: http://www.epic.org/privacy/internet/default.html