Consumer Privacy

Consumer Privacy: Protect Consumers, Facilitate Commerce

At a Glance:

  • Information technologies deliver many benefits to consumers, some of which involve the collection of information to enhance their consumer experience.
  • The future of the global economy depends on fostering a safe online world for consumers, where personal data is collected, used, and stored responsibly.
  • BSA members have implemented comprehensive privacy practices to address consumer concerns and have worked to educate consumers on making informed choices.
  • Government must adopt a workable policy framework, through a mix of best practices and government regulation, that safeguards consumers’ informed choices while preserving industry’s ability to provide consumers convenient, cost-effective access to information, services, and products.


BSA Position

BSA supports a balanced approach to privacy that respects and encourages informed consumer choices, while ensuring that products and services can be tailored to specific consumers’ needs and industry can continue to deliver products and services that consumers value.

Issue

Information technologies (IT) deliver many benefits to consumers, such as enhanced productivity and convenient access to information, services, and products. These important benefits of our modern digital economy involve the collection of information about consumers, such as their preferences, to enhance their online experience.

The future of the global economy depends on fostering a safe and legal online world, where personal data is being collected, used, and stored responsibly and securely, giving citizens and businesses confidence and trust in information tools.

Background

Over the last several decades, consumers have increasingly embraced and enjoyed the benefits of information technologies. Maintaining and building upon these benefits requires ensuring that rules for the collection of personal information are fair to consumers and flexible for businesses.

Both industry and government have played roles in promoting consumer confidence in IT systems. All BSA members have implemented comprehensive privacy practices to address consumer concerns, often based on internationally agreed norms such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Fair Information Practices. High-tech companies also operate in an environment shaped by national and regional laws, such as those of Canada or the European Union. The US Congress has enacted laws to protect specific types of information, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for health information, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act for financial information. Industry, government, and non-governmental organizations have undertaken extensive consumer education programs to encourage consumers to make informed choices about how their personal data is collected, used, and stored.

Actions Needed

  • Industry, government and non-governmental organizations must continue to educate consumers on how to make informed choices about how their personal data is collected, used, and stored. This includes encouraging consumers to be aware of privacy practices, make choices about how their personal information will be used, and safeguard data under their control.
  • Government must adopt a workable policy framework, through the appropriate mix of best practices and government regulation, that safeguards consumers’ informed choices while preserving industry’s ability to provide consumers convenient, cost-effective access to information, services, and products.

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