American non-profit group TRUSTe has unveiled a program to develop symbols and labels, similar to nutritional labels which appear on food, to help consumers understand what will happen to their personal details and data when collected through the Internet.
"The symbols can be used by anyone who accesses a Web site through the Internet, their mobile phones, digital assistant or other devices that collect personal information. The privacy labels will resemble nutrition labels found on food products listing the key facts at a glance," said Oz NetLaw Manager, John Corker.
"The US initiative is a step forward in assisting consumers, community groups and small business customers in understanding what will happen with any personal information provided," he said.
"If these symbols and labels indicate issues like opt-in/opt-out for use of the personal information for further direct marketing purposes they could be of considerable use in the Australian context."
However, Corker says seal programs raise issues of adequacy of audit, adequate monitoring by third parties and who will take action when organisations don't follow their published privacy practices.
The project will be discussed at an upcoming conference organised by the Communications Law Centre, Freehills laywers and Victoria University.
Privacy labels, spamming, telco issues, health records, employee privacy, genetics and privacy are all issues that will be discussed at the conference, which will also hear from the CEO of Junkbusters and Andrew Schulman, from the American Privacy Foundation.
