Data Protection News and Legislation

There are unique privacy issues web analytics raise. As an industry, we should do our best to rationalize the privacy concerns, educate all constituencies, and provide comfort to the user.

Initiatives and Issues:

Current Federal and State Legislation

Kerry/McCain Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011 [PDF]
To establish a regulatory framework for the comprehensive protection of personal data for individuals under the aegis of the Federal Trade Commission, and for other purposes.

Stearns Consumer Privacy Protection Act of 2011 [PDF]
To protect and enhance consumer privacy, and for other purposes.

2010 and Earlier

Boucher, Stearns Release Discussion Draft of Privacy Legislation [PDF]
Read more about this legislation that will affect the web analytics industry directly.

Privacy House Bill Draft 5-1 [PDF]
To require notice to and consent of an individual prior to the collection and disclosure of certain personal information relating to that individual. May 3, 2010

Privacy Discussion Draft Executive Summary [PDF]
Broadband networks are a primary driver of the national economy, and it is fundamentally in the nation’s interest to encourage their expanded use. One clear way Congress can promote greater use of the Internet is to assure individuals a high degree of privacy protection, including transparency about the collection, use and sharing of information about them, and to give them control over that collection, use and sharing, both online and offline.

HIPPA Privacy [PDF]
Learn more about the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and how it affects privacy issues through requiring standardization of electronic data interchange, protection of confidentiality, and security of health data through the setting and enforcement of standards.

Financial Privacy: The Gramm-Leach Bliley Act
Learn more about the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and how it affects privacy issues through requiring standardization of electronic data interchange, protection of confidentiality, and security of health data through the setting and enforcement of standards.

Current International Legislation

EU Data Protection Web Site
Access information about data protection in the European Union.

Best Practices and Standards:

W3C P3P Platform for Privacy Preferences
The Platform for Privacy Preferences Project (P3P), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium, is emerging as an industry standard providing a simple, automated way for users to gain more control over the use of personal information on Web sites they visit. At its most basic level, P3P is a standardized set of multiple-choice questions, covering all the major aspects of a Web site's privacy policies.

NAI Web Beacon Guidelines [PDF]
These guidelines are designed to address consumer concerns regarding the use of Web Beacons by educating businesses about the purpose of Web Beacons and the appropriate provision of notice and choice when Web Beacons are being used.