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[FYI] TRUSTe, DoubleClick, Privacy, and a Possible Conflict of Interest



TRUSTe, DoubleClick, Privacy, and a Possible Conflict of Interest

TRUSTe ostensibly certifies the privacy policy and compliance of Web sites.
Its chairman, Lori Fena, recently joined the Privacy Advisory Board set up
by online ad company DoubleClick, which was facing much public flak for its
privacy practices. Lori's decision to join DoubleClick's organization seems
to be a conflict of interest given her role in the supposedly independent
TRUSTe. Rusty Foster's open letter to Lori addresses the issue. The letter
dissects the matters of online trust and assuring the same with a third
party like TRUSTe. In a worthy contribution to the online privacy debate,
Rusty attacks TRUSTe's usefulness for consumers and its utility to the
industry it claims to serve. Incidentally, a Slashdot item has a blistering
list detailing the qualifications - or lack thereof - of the members of
DoubleClick's Privacy Advisory Board. Clearly biased, but not entirely
irrelevant. Wired has a good overview. 
Open Letter:
http://www.kuro5hin.org/?op=displaystory&sid=2000/5/22/5246/74086
Slashdot: http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/05/21/0029228&mode=thread
Wired: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,36404,00.html

NSD 06.18

Ciao
Kai

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