The Role of Consumer Education and Intervention in an Environment of Limited Privacy Regulation: Speech at the Twenty-Third Annual Conference of International Data Protection Commissioners

Presented at Twenty Third Annual Conference of International Data Protection Commissioners

By Beth Givens, Director
Paris, France

 

[NOTE: A shorter version of this paper was presented at the Paris Conference of the Data Protection Commissioners]
 

Esteemed Data Commissioners and fellow conference participants:

 

Confusing E-Mail about Opt-Out Number Sends the Wrong Message

 Updated: April 21, 2005

An unknown individual has broadcast an electronic mail message that has reached tens of thousands of consumers, confusing them with information that is only half correct.

 

The message explains, erroneously, that as of July 1, 2003, "the four major credit bureaus in the US will be allowed . to release your credit info, mailing addresses, phone numbers..... to anyone who requests it." This is not correct.

 

Financial Privacy Notices: Do They Really Want You to Know What They're Saying?

"Because we value your privacy.. we may sell your personal financial information." Does this make sense? Of course, not. But, that is precisely the message many banks and other financial companies are now sending to their customers. However, this message -- blurred by fine print, big words, long sentences and marketing jargon -- is far from clear.

New Privacy Rights May Be Buried in "Junk" Mail

Now is not the time to toss junk mail and ignore inserts in your bank and credit card statements. "Watch your mail!" says Tena Friery, research director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

Because of a new federal law, financial institutions are now mailing notices to consumers containing important information about their privacy rights. "Failure to pay attention to these privacy notices may result in sensitive financial data being sold to other companies for marketing and other purposes," warns Friery.

The Information Marketplace: Merging and Exchanging Consumer Data: Comments to the Federal Trade Commission

Federal Trade Commission Workshop, held March 13, 2001
600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580


Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
3100 - 5th Ave., Suite B
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 298-3396
Web: www.privacyrights.org

Submitted April 30, 2001

 

Topics covered in these Comments:

Public Access to Electronic Case Files: Comments to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts
Court Administration Policy Staff
Attn: Privacy Comments, Suite 4-560
One Columbus Circle, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20544

 

Re: Comments on Privacy and Public Access to Electronic Case Files


Prepared by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and Electronic Frontier Foundation

 

To the Administration Policy Staff:

 

Subscribe to