Telecommunications
& Information Technology Project
Internet Privacy Partners
Updated October 2004
Project Overview
Steering Committee Members
Project Schedule
Webcasts and Meeting Handouts
Internet Privacy Resources
NCSL Staff Contacts
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Project Summary
As more and more Americans use the Internet and e-mail, concerns about
information privacy and security continue to rise. These concerns are intensified
as the Internet has made access to information faster and easier, and allowing
information to be collected, distributed, analyzed and manipulated in ways
never before possible. However, there are benefits to data sharing – information
collected is used to better understand customer needs and improve services
and products to meet those needs.
To address these issues, state legislatures have introduced hundreds
of bills related to Internet privacy in recent years. Few Internet privacy
bills have passed, however, and legislators are finding it difficult to
craft laws that ensure the security of Americans' personal information
without impeding e-commerce. This project will promote discussion of the
issues and the exchange of information about the technology and policy
issues surrounding Internet privacy.
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Project
Overview and Deliverables
This project, which began in 2003, focused on unsolicited e-mail (spam), security, and
industry and legislative initiatives to address privacy on the Internet.
The project's purpose was to promote discussion of the issues and the exchange of information
about the technology and policy issues surrounding Internet privacy. In
particular, the project focused on unsolicited e-mail (spam), security,
and industry and legislative initiatives to address privacy on the Internet.
The project provides resources to help state legislators better understand
the issues and available options.
Meetings
To accomplish the objectives of this project, four working
sessions of the Information Technology and Telecommunications Partners
were held to discuss Internet Privacy issues and the development of project deliverables.
The NCSL Communications, Technology and Interstate Commerce Committee sponsored
programs on Internet Privacy to explore the issues surrounding
this topic and explore various technology and policy approaches. The working sessions and committee programs
were held in conjunction with NCSL major meetings in the spring, summer,
and fall of 2003, and in spring 2004.
Publication
NCSL staff prepared a short publication on Internet Privacy that
will provide background information and outline issues and options for
policymakers which will be made available in print and online.
Some of the issues addressed include:
Citizen concerns about and the current state of consumer privacy and security
Industry initiatives and technological tools for protecting consumer privacy
Industry practices with regard to the collection and sharing of consumer
information
Government regulation of Internet privacy
Web Page
The project developed a web page on the NCSL Web site
to provide access to project information and links to information about
the issue. All three committee sessions will be recorded, encoded and made
available through the Internet Privacy web page. Electronic copies of handouts
will also be available online.
Project Timeline
The anticipated time frame for this project was one year. The project
began in April 2003 and concluded with the NCSL Spring Forum meeting
in April 2004. The NCSL Communications, Technology and Interstate Commerce Committee sponsored
several programs, held in conjunction with the NCSL spring,
summer and fall Committee meetings. Four separate partners’ steering committee
meetings were also held.
Project Schedule
Partner and Committee Meetings:
April 24-27, 2003, Boston, Massachusetts, NCSL Spring Forum
July 21-25, 2003, San Francisco, California, NCSL Annual Meeting
December 10-12, 2003, Washington, DC, NCSL Fall Forum
April 28-30, 2004, Washington, DC, NCSL Spring Forum
Sponsors
The project was funded by the NCSL Foundation
for State Legislatures, AOL/Time Warner and Microsoft Corp.
NCSL
Contacts:
Pam Greenberg, pam.greenberg@ncsl.org,
303-364-7700
Jo Anne Bourquard, jo.anne.bourquard@ncsl.org,
303-364-7700
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