CompTIA supports Internet privacy policy

ARLINGTON, VA-The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), has formally announced its support for a uniform national policy on Internet privacy. "It is critical to the future of the new economy that consumers feel they have a reasonable degree of privacy when online, and recognize the difference between good and bad actors in both the on-and off-line worlds. A uniform national standard for online privacy will help bring us to that goal." said Bruce Hahn, public policy director for the CompTIA.

CompTIA recognizes the need for online consumer privacy in the information age and supports voluntary efforts of Internet companies to protect consumer privacy. In a spring 2000 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report titled Privacy Online: Fair Information Practices in the Electronic Marketplace, the Commission found that 90 percent of websites included in the FTC's annual sweep posted a privacy policy. Based on this report, CompTIA believes self-- regulation is proving to be an effective means of protecting individual privacy.

"Nevertheless, consumer perceptions are critical to the economic growth of the Internet as a vehicle of commerce. It is clear that a substantial number of consumers have doubts about privacy protection and it is therefore useful to enact legislation embodying practices many companies are following voluntarily," said Tom Santaniello, CompTIA's Public Policy Manager.