Protecting Privacy Online: Is Self-Regulation Working?

• Published in: Journal of public policy & marketing Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 20 - 26
• Main Author: Culnan, Mary J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago American Marketing Association 01-04-2000; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Computer privacy; Consumer goods industries; Consumer information; Consumer protection; Consumer protection regulation; Consumers; Customer relationship management; Demography; Disclosure; Electronic commerce; Enforcement; Industrial regulation; Internet; Legislation; Marketing; Personal information; Privacy; Progress reports; Public opinion surveys; Public policy; Self regulation; Studies; URLs; Websites; United States > US
• ISSN: 0743-9156; 1547-7207
• DOI: 10.1509/jppm.19.1.20.16944

The author assesses the extent to which 361 consumer-oriented commercial Web sites post disclosures that describe their information practices and whether these disclosures reflect fair information practices. Although approximately 67% of the sites sampled post a privacy disclosure, only 14% of these disclosures constitute a comprehensive privacy policy. The study was initiated by the private sector as a progress report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and is one in a series of efforts designed to assess whether consumer privacy can be protected through industry self-regulation or whether legislation is required. Although the FTC does not recommend legislation at this time, the study suggests that an effective self-regulatory regime for consumer privacy online has yet to emerge.