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Entry bubble Online Privacy: Is it actually possible?

By: Sommer | November 16, 2007 | Category: General

About two weeks ago, I attended a Federal Trade Commission Town Hall meeting about online privacy issues. This meeting really sparked the consumer advocate in me and I immediately wanted to step into action and single handedly change the world to protect the consumer interest!

After sitting through the meeting, however, I began wondering if there's even potential for online privacy. Or, are we so far past the possibility that there’s no going back. With spyware, cookies, tracking cookies, online ads and privacy policies on almost every site you visit; data losses every time we turn around, and a multitude of log-in IDs and passwords to remember every day, having privacy online seems completely impossible to me.

At the meeting, I learned about some new tools and research that might help make the marketplace a little more transparent though we’ve got a LONG way to go:

  • OnGuard Online provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to teach you about Internet fraud, to secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
  • PrivacyFinder.org: This site, developed by Carnegie Mellon University, allows you to search the web just like any other search engine but it lets you choose an information sharing level you’re comfortable with.  It then uses your preference and compares it to data from the search results' valid P3P privacy policies to help you make a more informed decision about whether you want to do business with that particular company or organization.
  • News.com’s recent article shows how each major search engine uses personal search data complete with a chart that tells you which ones retain, delete, or anonymize your search records, and more.
  • Network Advertising Initiative created a tool to help consumers opt out of online advertising.  It’s definitely not a perfect tool, but, hey it’s a start!
  • World Privacy Forum serves as an information resource for all things privacy.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on some issues related to online privacy. If you’re willing, I welcome you to leave a comment. I’m very curious about the opinions others have on this topic.

  1. What are your expectations for online privacy from companies and search engines?
  2. What’s the appropriate use of your information online: Examples: offer notice before sharing your info vs. offering choice by allowing you to opt in or out of third party information sharing
  3. When it comes to online privacy, what do you care about most? Examples: privacy of financial data, personalized advertising as a result of tracking you on the web, information sharing among third party companies

| Comments [5] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: cookies   internet   online   policies   privacy   sommer   spam  

Comments:

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Another suggestion for online privacy... when surfing, you can surf anonymously through a website like http://anonymouse.org/. If you're not familiar with the site, I encourage you to check it out.

Posted by Talking Books Librarian at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/ on November 16, 2007 at 10:17 AM EST #

What are your expectations for online privacy from companies and search engines?
I don't expect much as far as privacy, unless the page is encrypted. That is supposed to be secure. I am very careful about what information I give out and I always make sure I log off from encrypted pages such as banks and shopping carts.

What’s the appropriate use of your information online: Examples: offer notice before sharing your info vs. offering choice by allowing you to opt in or out of third party information sharing
As long as there is either a choice or prior notice. I will opt out if I decide the content is not interesting.

When it comes to online privacy, what do you care about most? Examples: privacy of financial data, personalized advertising as a result of tracking you on the web, information sharing among third party companies
Mostly financial data. I don't mind being tracked. I have a big problem with sharing information. And they'll tell their friends, and so on.

Posted by jennifer.sherry on November 16, 2007 at 02:26 PM EST #

I tried http://anonymouse.org and it's blocked by GSA.

Posted by jennifer.sherry on November 16, 2007 at 02:28 PM EST #

It used to be enough just clearing cookies and running anti spies. Now search engines are tracking consumers clicks and moves, sending back information to their advertisers. As an advertiser, you can find out the exact phrase one searched for online, which has concluded in a purchase. This is valuable information to advertisers: If I know what consumers were looking for when they've purchased my product, I'll know exactly where to advertise next time, saving me money and effort.
What about the customer's privacy? They will be notified of the tracking and supplied detailed information about the process, which is harmless.
This is a moral issue.
I'm still more bothered by my home mailbox overloaded with junk than my email which is much easier to clean (environmental friendlier), yet it's still fine to stuff my (very private!) mailbox with fliers, useless magazines and newspapers. I'm very annoyed by the fact that anyone can call my private phone, at almost any hour of the day with commercial offers, much more that any junk email some third party company had sent me.
Important information I will never send online in any case.

Posted by http://makemoneyonline-review.com on November 20, 2007 at 01:32 PM EST #

This is to all those spammers out there, I would NEVER buy anything from any lowlife Types who felt they had to force thier advertisments upon others, all spam does for me is Tell me what compianies I should NOT buy products from, Most products that are reputable sell themselves without having to shove the ads for them down peoples throats by sending spam or pop up ads secretly (and sleazy)attached to other sights or e-mails, this is the most idiotic way to do business that has ever been used and turns consumers off to those products, most of us would like to reach into the computer screen and grab these spammers and choke some sense into them - (Putting it nicely) why cant they understand that? I guess I would put these types of sales tactics in the same level of context as a Pimp sells a hooker on a street corner, We dont want to see these thing but we are forced to see them as we travel those roads. The ones that annoy me the most is the ones that advertise security software to help stop exactly what they themselves are actually doing,They are the lowest forms of life and should NEVER be trusted, remeber they have already violated your privacy by sending thier pop up ads. We (my company) are also on a federal no call list yet we get at least ten telemarketers calling each day and when we tell them we are on a federal no call list most of them just laugh because they know that the likelyhood of them being prosecuted is so small that a bookie wouldent even take bets on it, So to all people using the net I would say lets boycot these type companies to show our dislike of thier advertising styles, this will get the message to them in a financial way wich they might finally notice. What do I know, I am Just a consumer. Have a good day.

Posted by Dan Gilmore on November 21, 2007 at 09:59 AM EST #

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