From: Marvin George, yesone@c2i2.com To: NTIA.NTIAHQ(privacy) Date: 6/13/98 12:28am Subject: privacy responses 1. Name: Marvin George 2. Email: yesone@c2i2.com 3. Affiliation: citizen Question 1: When you go to Web sites, do you typically see notices telling you what companies are doing with information about you? Is this important to you? The notices are starting to show up. I haven't got to much junk mail from the web sites and I don't take it seriously enough. Maybe because I live in a small community they don't bother. If I saw them using the information for ads or junk e-mail I would take notice. I get ads at certain sites that don't take consiuderation of what I told them. If I saw them using the information in negative manner I would write my elected representatives about it. If they are tailoring the ads to what I want to be informed then I say it is worthwhile. Question 2: Do Web sites that you visit give you control over secondary uses of your information (for example do they ask your permission to send you more information, or let you opt-out of mailings)? If so, what kind of choices? If not, what would you like to see them offer? In most cases they don' give any choices over secondary uses. This is not right and should be asked who they are giving the information too. This is something that be checked on the form. I would like to see a check box on the sale of information to give the person to opt out of it. They may send spam out but state that you requested information on that service from another company. They may even send you regular junk mail. The bottom line is you control the ability to sell your name. Question 3: Do you find that companies give you the ability to access and correct data that you have provided about yourself? How important is this to you? This is something that should be allowed and mandated as condition change and what the obtained from the cookie that they install in your computer. They should allow you to see what they have tracked of you be able to correct it. This should be mandated because it could effect you on job, loan and so forth as companies will demand that data. Question 4: How should companies be held accountable for failures to protect privacy? Should they be fined? Should you be able to sue them? The FTC just put a consent order to geocities for doing something with the privacy information. The FtC should take action if they violate the privacy of an indiviual as they did geocities. You should put in compliant to the FTC and have them take action against the site if under US Law or have them obtain from the country they come from. The use of fines should be used as a last resort. There is very little you can accomplish in suit except make the lawyer rich off of you. Question 5: The collection of information from children is an especially sensitive area. What Should be done to protect children's privacy online? I don't believe a child should ask to give out information unless the parent gives it out. The parent is better able to size up the situtation better the child. I believe it should regulated by the government. Question 6: Do you think that if industry adopts all of these measures that your privacy will be protected? Would you rather see government make laws to regulate privacy on the Internet? I think first you give a chance for self regulation and if that fails then government regulation should take place. Question 7: What experiences have you encountered online in which privacy has been an issue? Question 8: What experiences have you encountered online in which privacy has been an issue? I think the rules of privacy should apply to them and more so. They know what you buy week after week and they can pretty well tell company your whole personality in reference grocery card. They should be under the same restiction. Medical records should be sealed and only given to your health insurance company and no one else unless you approve it. Question 9: Other Comments: