Other key privacy issues analyzed in this study (NCPA Policy Report No. 243, April 2001)

Crypto costs plummeting: Fully encrypted Internet possible by 2005. Processors get faster, network pipes larger, encryption software cheaper, and interest in security stronger. Many companies are offering encryption solutions to companies of all sizes. Security experts expect the percentage of encrypted Internet traffic to increase from 10% today to 100% by 2005. securityfocus.com

Personal privacy in a transparent society. Concerns about how personal, financial and medical information about individuals might be used by employers, marketers and health insurers can be addressed with carefully crafted laws that promote clear disclosure (and enforcement) of privacy agreements. Such laws would help people protect themselves without sacrificing the freedom of speech of those who collect data. (NCPA Brief Analysis No. 359, April 27, 2001)

Getting a lot of privacy junk-mail lately? By July 1, 2001, every U.S. financial institution must notify customers about its policies and practices regarding the protection and disclosure of nonpublic personal information. Customers will be given the opportunity to "opt out" of any sharing of information with third parties. If customers don't do anything, their information will be available to the financial institution to use within federal regulatory guidelines. Bankers estimate that as many as nine of every 10 people would never respond. (NCPA Brief Analysis No. 360, April 27, 2001.)

Threats to privacy highest in history. Threats to individual privacy have never been greater due to the spread of electronic databases in government, medicine, business and the workplace. However, unwise legislation could destroy many benefits of information sharing for private individuals, according to a new study issued today by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA). News Release, April 27, 2001

The evolving technologies of internet privacy. Two dynamic Internet software industries are emerging. One is the data-mining industry, producing software tools that firms use to analyze consumer behavior and preferences on the Internet. The other is the privacy software industry, whose products are designed to stop some or all of this individual information from being collected and analyzed. Privacy protection practices and technologies are evolving to allow Internet services to meet customer expectations. (NCPA Policy Backgrounder No. 156, April 27, 2001)