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"Strong" and "em" and "cite" and "code" already have rules written for the ID called "center". p — By calling the toll free number em — instead of visiting the online site, strong — consumers are also protected cite — from the potentially confusing samp — sales and marketing information ...

WPF and EFF Submit Comments on the National Health Information Network

Medical Privacy | Infrastructure & Databases -- The World Privacy Forum and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have submitted official comments in response to the U.S. government's "Request for Information" about its plan to digitize all patient medical records and create an electronic "National Health Information Network" or NHIN. The comments urge caution in designing the NHIN and call for the government to build privacy, security, and open source technologies into the system from the beginning of the project.

Public Comments: February 2005 Comments on NHIN Request for Information

The World Privacy Forum and the Electronic Frontier Foundation submitted comments in response to the U.S. government's "Request for Information" about its plan to digitize all patient medical records and create an electronic "National Health Information Network" or NHIN. The comments urge caution in designing the NHIN and call for the government to build privacy, security, and open source technologies into the system from the beginning of the project.

World Privacy Forum Testifies about Federal ID Card

Workplace Surveillance and Privacy -- The World Privacy Forum testified on January 19 regarding the need to build reasonable privacy and security protections into the proposed "smart" Federal ID cards. The testimony included recommendations on making the mandated employee background checks equitable, careful implementation of the Privacy Act, and conducting a Privacy Impact Assessment. Other key issues included setting limits on card use and protecting the mandated source documents, such as birth certificates, that will be required to obtain a card.

How to say no to the cookies that track you

Consumer tips on managing cookies -- Some computer cookies are harmless, but others can track your moves across many Web sites, eventually building a detailed history of your preferences. The good news is that you can manage these persistent tracking cookies to some degree. To do this, you need to know how to say no to the third party tracking cookies you don't want while still allowing yourself to say yes to the cookies you do want. There are several ways to do this. One way is to download "opt-out cookies." Another way is to use your browser's cookie management tools to manage your cookies. Another method is to regularly delete unwanted cookies. In some cases, you can stop tracking through account preferences at some web sites.

Consumer Tips: Resume Database Information

In any job search, it is undeniably important to circulate a resume. However, job seekers need to carefully minimize privacy issues related to resumes while still maintaining appropriate exposure to employers. It is important for all job seekers to understand that resume databases vary widely in privacy practices and controls. Learning to choose a quality job search site and resume database with good privacy practices has become an important part of your job search if you plan to use the Internet as a job search tool. Another key skill is to discriminate between valid job search related email and unhelpful solicitations for your resume.

Report: A Year in the Life of a Job Scam

WPF Report -- This report tracks a widespread online job scam over the course of a year from July 2003 to July 2004. The report contains findings, recommendations, critical new tips for job seekers, and examples and explanations of the scam in action (emails to victims, contracts, etc.) The report examines the intersection between job fraud and job seeker privacy. Responses from job sites about what they are doing about job fraud are included in the report.

Timeline: The evolution of a job scam

Job applicant rights and privacy -- This visual timeline chronicles a year of a job scam. The timeline documents the cities the fake jobs were targeting, dates the jobs posted, the various company names the scam operated under, and the contact names used in the scam. The job scam timeline is documented with screen shots of the job listings and how they looked as posted. The scam is still active.

WHOIS database privacy issues

Online privacy and WHOIS database -- In comments submitted to ICANN's Task Forces 1 and 2 on the WHOIS Database, the World Privacy Forum has asked for tiered access to domain registry information. This would allow domain registrants the ability to keep home phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses private. The WPF has also asked that personal information in the WHOIS database not be made available to marketers.

Public Comments: July 2004 - Whois Task Force 1 Preliminary Report

The WHOIS database contains registry data for individuals and companies that have registered domain names. Many individuals who have registered domain names and who have put accurate information in the registry do not realize that this information is available to the public, and is used by marketing companies. The WPF supports creating a tiered access system to WHOIS data that will protect domain registrants' sensitive personal information.

Public Comments: June 2004 - WHOIS Task Force 2 Preliminary Report

In comments submitted to ICANN's Task Forces 1 and 2 on the WHOIS Database, the World Privacy Forum has asked for tiered access to domain registry information. This would allow domain registrants the ability to keep home phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses private. The WPF has also asked that personal information in the WHOIS database not be made available to marketers.

Public Comments: June 2004 - Response from the State of California, Office of the Attorney General regarding Goggle's Gmail Service

California AG Bill Lockyer has sent a letter to EPIC, PRC, and WPF regarding Gmail and California's two-way consent requirement in its wiretapping laws. Lockyer wrote in a response dated June 4: "The potential exposure of Gmail users to liability for violation of Penal Code section 631 is of particular concern, as are the rights of those who are not subscribers to Gmail but who send e-mail to those who are."

Public Comments: April 2004 - Communications privacy

31 Privacy and Civil Liberties Organizations Urge Google to Suspend Gmail and Address Privacy Concerns.. -- Thirty one privacy and civil liberties organizations have signed a letter urging Google to suspend its Gmail service until the privacy issues are adequately addressed. The letter also requests that Google clarify its written information policies regarding data retention and data sharing among its business units.

Consumer fraud alert: job scams

Consumer Alert -- The World Privacy Forum and the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse have become aware of a nationwide job scam currently in action. We are advising job seekers to avoid any response to job ads coming from Unk Electronics, Macrocommerce Intersales, and Nanjing Panada Electronics, and to be aware of the high potential for financial fraud and or identity theft if they have already responded to job ads from these companies.

Inaugural World Privacy Forum Report, 11 November 2003

Job Searching in the Networked Environment: Consumer Benchmarks -- The World Privacy Forum officially launches with this inaugural report, a study a year in its research on the job search sector. This study, The 2003 Job Search Privacy Study: Job Searching in the Networked Environment: Consumer Benchmarks , documents job applicant privacy across the job search industry from resume writers to job search sites to resume blasters and other parts of the job search infrastructure.

2003 Job Search Privacy Study: Executive Summary

Roadmap: 2003 Job Search Privacy Study - Job Searching in the Networked Environment: Consumer Privacy Benchmarks: I. Executive Summary Job seekers, when applying for a job using electronic formats, experience less privacy and freedom than they do in non-electronic formats. In a mere decade, job searching has evolved from primarily a paper and file-cabinet affair to an arena that is nearly completely digitized. Resumes, no matter what the originating form — fax, email, or paper — are now scanned, sorted, shuffled, stored and datamined in a bewildering assortment of ways. This changed applicant process has, overall, not had a beneficial effect on the job seeker.

2003 Job Search Privacy Study: Principles of Fair Information Practices

The premise of this report and the analysis of site practices and issues in this report is based upon the canon of Fair Information Practices, particularly as expressed in the eight principles of Fair Information Practices outlined in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 1980 Guidelines. [5] These guidelines form the basis of most modern international privacy agreements and national laws. The principles were agreed upon by member countries, including the United States. These principles and guidelines are referred to throughout the report either as the principles of Fair Information Practices, or as the OECD guidelines.

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