Privacy, Regulation & the Internet

Recent research from the Progress & Freedom Foundation           Back to NCPA Debate Home Page

Self-Regulation of Interactive Media: The New Millennium Challenge Friday, October 27, 2000 As part of its research and educational activities concerning on-line privacy and the regulation of personal information, PFF released a paper by its senior advisor on such matters, Edwin L. Behrens. Entitled "Self-Regulation of Interactive Media: The New Millennium Challenge," it is based on an address to the 46th World Congress of the World Federation of Advertisers, in Seoul, Korea. Behrens recognizes the tremendous potential of the Internet to benefit consumers and commerce. ----- "Markets Versus Regulation as Methods of Protecting Privacy." October 3, 2000 The market for privacy is discussed, then the issue of whether government regulation to improve the situation. Those results suggest that legislation at this time would be premature. While consumers clearly are concerned about on-line privacy, the risk of unforeseen consequences from proposals for government intervention is high, and those consequences could be to impede the development of the new medium to the detriment of consumers and the economy. ----- Critics Fear Surveillance Of Web Surfers Compromise Privacy Joie Chen (CNN Anchor), Jeffrey A. Eisenach, Rep. Asa Hutchinson, Ann Kellan (CNN Correspondent), Jim Moret (CNN Anchor) July 2000 As surfing the Web has grown in popularity, so has the effort to track the moves of Web users. Critics call the tracking an invasion of privacy, but it is big business as corporations and advertisers try to get to know consumers.