consumer privacy

With the advent and evolution of the World Wide Web and other electronic methods of mass communications, consumer privacy has become a major issue. Personal information, when misused or inadequately protected, can result in identity theft, financial fraud, and other problems that collectively cost people, businesses, and governments millions of U.S. dollars per year. In addition, Internet crimes and civil disputes consume court resources, confound legislators and police departments, and produce untold personal aggravation.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) sponsors the Platform for Privacy Preferences Project (P3P), which provides an automated method for Internet users to divulge personal information to Web sites with which they explicitly agree to share it. A P3P-compliant Web site posts a Statement of Privacy Policy that explicitly defines what will be done with information provided by the user. The policy statement is easily found, read, understood, and acted upon. Each user can create a unique personal profile if desired, and modify or delete the profile at will.

Other consumer privacy features commonly offered by corporations and government agencies include do not call lists; verification of transactions by e-mail or telephone; non-repudiation technologies for e-mail; passwords and other authorization measures; encryption and decryption of electronically transmitted data; opt-out provisions in user agreements for bank accounts, utilities, credit cards, and similar services; digital signatures; and biometric identification technology.

Learn more about Financial reporting and compliance data management

Business intelligence in financial services: Special report: In this report on business intelligence in financial services, learn about BI challenges in financial services and how banks are implementing and managing BI.
An overview of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance software: Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, software and requirements can be confusing. Get an overview of SOX compliance technology and more, in this mini guide.
What are the best analytical tools for business intelligence for finance?: What are the best BI tools that can be implemented in financial markets for pattern analysis?
Business intelligence in financial services: Special report: In this report on business intelligence in financial services, learn about BI challenges in financial services and how banks are implementing and managing BI.
An overview of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance software: Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, software and requirements can be confusing. Get an overview of SOX compliance technology and more, in this mini guide.
Sarbanes-Oxley compliance quiz: Are you SOX savvy?: Test your knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance concepts and software by taking a SOX quiz.
Regulatory compliance: This Search390.com Crash Course examines the four major IT regulations that companies face. Sarbanes Oxley and Gramm Leach Bliley sound like names of proper Southern gentlemen but they are in fact ...
	Data management books: Read sample chapters from industry-renowned data management books. Browse free excerpts about BI, compliance and security, EDI, data warehousing, data quality and data governance.

Do you have something to add to this definition? Let us know. Send your comments to techterms@whatis.com

More resources from around the web: - A SearchCRM.com article explores how well firms are dealing with consumer privacy issues. - ConsumerPrivacy.org offers information that people can use to help protect their online privacy.

FILE EXTENSION AND FILE FORMAT LIST File Extension and File Format List: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

RELATED CONTENT CPM software adoption still low despite financial planning benefits Most companies continue to use Excel spreadsheets and manual processes over CPM software for financial planning, forecasting and budgeting. Business intelligence in financial services: Special report In this report on business intelligence in financial services, learn about BI challenges in financial services and how banks are implementing and... Business Objects customer frustrated with SAP licensing, technical hiccup Upgrading to Business Objects Web Intelligence has required Bigelow Teas to redevelop more than two dozen reports. Licensing and maintenance costs are...

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary compliance  (SearchDataManagement.com) Compliance is a state in which someone or something is in accordance with established guidelines, specifications, or legislation. Software, for... Patriot Act  (SearchDataManagement.com) The Patriot Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress on October 26, 2001, at the request of President George Bush in response to the terrorist acts of...