FC: More DC photos; Consumer grp says U.S. firms protect privacy better

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

So I took the Canon D30 digital camera to the National Zoo earlier this 
week, equipped with a 640 mm lens. (It's a 70-200 mm lens with a 2x 
doubler, but the camera's sensor magnifies by an extra 1.6x, hence 640 mm.) 
Some photos:
http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/national-zoo-cats.html
http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/national-zoo.html

And, of course, DC's newest VIPs -- not the first family, but the giant 
pandas known as Mei Xiang and Tian Tian:
http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/national-zoo-pandas.html
http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/national-zoo-pandas-bw.html

The D30 is remarkably sharp and crisp. In fact, even though it is "just" a 
3 megapixel camera, in my experience the results are as good or better than 
ISO100 pro color film like Provia. One head to head comparison, which 
echoes my findings, between Provia and the D30 concluded the "D30's digital 
image actually was better in almost every respect":
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/d30_vs_film.htm

Also some DC monument photos:
http://www.mccullagh.org/theme/dc-monuments.html

**********

A new report from Consumers International, an association of over 260 
consumer groups and agencies from many countries:
http://www.consumersinternational.org/news/pressreleases/fprivreport.pdf

Although CI doesn't approve of everything US firms are doing, it concludes 
that they're doing better than their European counterparts, the European 
Data Directive notwithstanding (market pressure apparently being more 
effective than bureaucrats' best efforts):
       Despite tight EU regulation, sites within the EU are no better at
       telling users how they use their data than sites based in the US.
       Indeed, some of the best privacy policies were found on US sites.
       The most popular US sites were more likely than the EU ones to
       give users a choice about being on the company's mailing list or
       having their name passed on, despite the existence of legislation
       which obliges EU-based sites to provide users with a choice.

The press release follows.

-Declan

********

http://www.consumersinternational.org/news/pressreleases/privacy250101.html

Press Release - 25 January 2001
Consumer Privacy Threatened On The Net

US And EU Websites Fall Short Of The International Standards On Privacy
International Survey Reveals Ignorance Of Most Basic Principles Of Fair 
Information Use

   Contact: Rinske van Duifhuizen
   Tel: +44-20-7226-6663 ext. 236
   Mobile: 07944-852207,
   E-mail: rvan-dui () consint org
   Or: Naja Felter
   Tel: +44-20-7226-6663 ext. 203
   E-mail: nfelter () consint org

   Consumers International, the global federation of 263 consumer
   organisations, today issued the results of its comparative study of
   privacy protection on 751 Internet sites for consumers.

   The main findings of the study reveal that existing measures put in
   place by various governments to protect people's privacy is not
   adequate. Consumers International's research clearly shows that many
   European and American Internet sites aimed at consumers fall woefully
   short of international standards on data protection.

   In particular, we found that:
     * Just over two thirds of sites collect some sort of personal
       information and almost all of these sites asked for details that
       made it easy to identify and contact the person.
     * The vast majority of sites gave users no choice about being on the
       site's own mailing list or having their name passed on to
       affiliates or third parties.
     * Despite tight EU regulation, sites within the EU are no better at
       telling users how they use their data than sites based in the US.
       Indeed, some of the best privacy policies were found on US sites.
     * The most popular US sites were more likely than the EU ones to
       give users a choice about being on the company's mailing list or
       having their name passed on, despite the existence of legislation
       which obliges EU-based sites to provide users with a choice.
     * Only ten percent of sites targeting children asked children to get
       their parents' consent before giving personal information or to
       tell their parents afterwards.

   "Privacy is recognised as a fundamental human right, yet we've found
   that too many companies collect a lot of unnecessary, very personal
   information about their customers - and because of inadequate
   implementation of existing government measures people don't have
   control over their data," says Anna Fielder, Director of the Office
   for Developed and Transition Economies of Consumers International.
   "This widespread neglect of good privacy practice is all the more
   worrying when you consider that electronic technologies for collection
   of data develop so rapidly."

   Consumers International is now calling for policy makers at the
   national and international level to take urgent action to adopt laws,
   rules and procedures as necessary to ensure that:
     * users are given control over the collection, use and disclosure of
       their personal information and that personal information is only
       collected and held as long as necessary to fulfil the original
       purpose for collecting it
     * users can easily check, correct or delete any data a sites may
       hold about them and that it is collected, stored and transmitted
       in a secure manner appropriate to the sensitivity of the data;
     * an independent oversight body is established to ensure compliance,
       provide for adequate sanctions for violations and give cheap and
       quick access to redress;

   Likewise, companies immediately need to incorporate internal practices
   in line with all existing legislation and guidelines regarding privacy
   of personal data.

   The report by Consumers International provides a five-point plan for
   people to protect themselves from misuse of private information in
   e-commerce. The five-point plan is:
    1. Limit disclosure of your personal information.
    2. Set up a separate e-mail account for e-commerce activities.
    3. Reject cookies planted in your computer by intrusive businesses.
    4. Consider using an internet privacy tool which allows you to surf
       anonymously.
    5. Learn about your legal rights and be prepared to use them.
     _________________________________________________________________

   Editor's note: The survey, conducted between March and July 2000 by 13
   national consumer organisations, identified and examined 751 Internet
   sites based in the EU or US where consumers were likely to be asked to
   give personal information. This included retail sites, financial
   sites, health-related sites, sites targeting children and the most
   popular or heavily used sites on the web.

   The full report is available here and the 5 point check list here.

   Several spokespersons are available for interviews.
   Please contact Rinske van Duifhuizen for more information (see details
   on top of this press release)




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