[So much for the privacy code being "voluntary." It's precisely as voluntary and ill-advised as the Vchip or PICS. All illustrate one point: if corporations don't self-regulate, the government will do it for them. --Declan] ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 18:11:38 -0500 From: Aaron Pressman <aaron.pressman@reuters.com> US lawmaker to review info industry's privacy code WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Commerce Committee chairman John McCain said Monday he planned to review voluntary industry efforts to protect the privacy of people using the Internet. The Arizona Republican made the statement in a letter to the head of the Information Technology Industry Council, a group of computer manufacturers that unveiled on Monday a code of conduct for respecting privacy on their sites on the Internet's World Wide Web. "I look forward to reviewing these standards at the Commerce Committee," McCain said. McCain called the group's eight privacy principles "a good first step," adding that he was "pleased the industry took it upon itself to attempt to deal with this important issue." Council officials said the voluntary guidelines were, in part, intended to address the concerns of lawmakers and President Bill Clinton, who in July challenged the industry to come up with practices to protect privacy. The council included major personal computer makers such as Dell Computer Corp <DELL.O> and Compaq Computer Corp <CPQ.N>, chipmakers like Intel Corp <INTC.O> and Motorola Inc <MOT.N> and manufacturers of related gear like AMP Inc <AMP.N> and Lexmark International Group Inc <LXK.N>. The guidelines recommend that a company notify consumers of what personal data are being collected on a Web site and allow them some degree of choice over how the data are used. Technological solutions should be employed "enabling individual data providers to exercise choice and control over their personal data," the guidelines said. Companies should also limit the collection of data to what is needed for valid business reasons and to ensure the data's accuracy and security. One aspect of the guidelines that could draw fire from the White House and Capitol Hill concerns the protection of children's privacy. In July, Clinton said protecting children, who might be unable to make "informed choices" about revealing personal information, could justify some legislation. The new guidelines recommend only that parents teach their children appropriate behavior. "Individuals should use their powers of choice in the marketplace to safeguard their personal data and that of the children," the guidelines said in the only explicit reference to youngsters.