IP: eTRUST Press Release

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

Contact:                                Lori Fena
                                        Electronic Frontier Foundation
                                        415-436-9333


                                        Asim Abdullah
                                        CommerceNet
                                        415-858-1930


                                        Aaron Feigin
                                        Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
                                        415-356-1033


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COMMERCENET AND ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION (EFF) PARTNER TO IMPLEMENT=20
ETRUST


Permanent Global Infrastructure Designed to Address and Increase Consumer
Trust in Electronic Transactions


Palo Alto, CA, October 16, 1996 -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation
(EFF) and CommerceNet are partnering to implement eTRUST, a global
initiative for establishing consumer trust and confidence in electronic
transactions.  Tapping the combined strength of industry and public
interests, eTRUST is designed to address the issues of consumer trust in
the Internet marketplace.=20


eTRUST will build an integrated logo system which consumers will associate
with trust and confidence in electronic transactions.  Though eTRUST will
address privacy and security concerns initially, the eTRUST brand will
grow to encompass a variety of other consumer interests.  A major
component of eTRUST will be an awareness and education program for
consumers and businesses.=20


The Commercial Guidelines and Auditing Standards committee of eTRUST which
is made up of leading companies immersed in the privacy issue - including
Coopers & Lybrand, Firefly Network, KPMG and Test Drive - have developed
guidelines for an accreditation program.  According to the program,
companies that conduct business online will be able to gain consumer trust
and confidence through an accreditation process which involves
self-assessment, third-party auditing, and online community monitoring of
information privacy practices. Companies that meet the privacy and
security guidelines and become accredited will be able to license and
display eTRUST logos on their Web pages.=20


An open process for establishing and further developing guidelines will be
administered by a steering committee of businesses, auditing firms, and
electronic public interest organizations.  Pricing structures will be
developed during the pilot phase to be carried out during fourth quarter
of 1996.  A commercial offering will be launched in first quarter of 1997.=
=20
eTRUST will market and provide this accreditation and licensing service to
companies worldwide that do business with electronic transactions,
especially on the Internet.=20


"CommerceNet is an ideal partner to implement this program.  Their overall
mission is closely aligned with the vision of eTRUST, they already have a
strong group of member companies focused in e-commerce, and they are in
the process of developing a worldwide infrastructure to deliver programs
like eTRUST," said Lori Fena, Executive Director of EFF.=20


"The Electronic Frontier Foundation has been very influential in promoting
the positive growth of the Internet and in protecting the privacy and
other rights of both users and providers of online services.  We are
pleased to work with such a respected organization as the EFF on an
initiative like eTRUST in building consumer confidence and thus accelerate
the growth of electronic commerce.  This will better allow us to serve our
members by quickly expanding the market for their products and services,"
said Asim Abdullah, Executive Director of CommerceNet.=20


"The eTRUST project is critical to building public trust in online
transactions," said Marty Tenenbaum, Chairman of CommerceNet.  "It assures
individuals will receive full disclosure on how and where information will
be used and gives them the opportunity to opt out of a transaction."=20


"Building an infrastructure of trust within the Internet marketplace is
absolutely critical to the task of moving from early adopter to mass-scale
markets," said Charles Jennings, CEO of Portland Software.  "Essentially,
we=D5re supporting eTRUST because we think it can help drive our business in
that direction."=20


"Coopers & Lybrand is exceedingly pleased to be involved in setting the
standards and direction for the eTRUST initiative, thereby supporting the
Internet in its ability to conduct electronic commerce," said Russell J.=20
Sapienza, Jr., Partner of Coopers & Lybrand=D5s Computer Assurance Services.=
=20


Designed to provide online merchants with a clear set of guidelines for
privacy and security practices, the ultimate beneficiaries of the eTRUST
program will be online consumers, who will be able to make informed
choices regarding electronic purchasing,


Web browsing, online registration, data exchange, and many other types of
online transactions.  Key principles of the eTRUST project include:=20


* Informed Consent is Necessary -- Consumers have the right to be informed
about the privacy and security consequences of an online transaction
BEFORE entering into one.=20


* There Is No Privacy Without Appropriate Security -- Privacy and security
are inexorably linked in an online transaction.  There is no privacy
protection without reliable security measures.=20


* Privacy Standards Vary According to Context of Use -- No single privacy
standard covers all situations or all participants.=20


More information about the eTRUST program can be found at its Website
address:  http://www.etrust.org






CommerceNet


CommerceNet is a non-profit industry association and recognized leader
working to transform the Internet into a global electronic marketplace.=20
Launched in April 1994, the Silicon Valley-based organization has over 175
members worldwide, including leading banks, telecommunications companies,
Internet service providers, online services, software service providers
and end-users.  More information about CommerceNet can be found at
http://www.commerce.net/


Electronic Frontier Foundation


The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a non-profit civil liberties
organization working in the public interest to promote, privacy, free
expression, and social responsibility in new media.  More information
about EFF can be found at http://www.eff.org/