New privacy rules could affect IT vendors

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February 28, 2000
Web posted at: 8:50 a.m. EST (1350 GMT)

by Nancy Weil

(IDG) -- Proposed U.S. federal rules aimed at protecting the privacy of information that consumers disclose to financial institutions could affect hardware and software makers that finance the products they sell directly to users.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission outlined the proposed rules on Thursday and is seeking public comment on them.

The FTC must establish the rules to enact the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which was passed into law late last year and puts restrictions on when financial institutions are allowed to disclose non-public personal information to third parties. The law further requires financial institutions to disclose privacy policies and practices to consumers.

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The law's intent is to provide consumers with at least some control over the distribution and sale of their personal information to third parties such as telemarketers.

The law broadly defines financial institutions to include, among others, the makers of hardware and software, personal property appraisers, real-estate appraisers, retailers, career counselors for employees in financial jobs and travel agencies that operate in conjunction with financial services.

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Public comments on the proposed rule can be made until March 30. Comments should be mailed to: Secretary, Federal Trade Commission, Room H-159, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20580, or may be sent via e-mail to GLBRule@ftc.gov.

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You already have zero privacy ö get over it
(The Industry Standard)
EU, U.S. edge towards data privacy accord
(IDG.net)
FTC concerned with privacy of health care Web sites
(Federal Computer Week)
The coming privacy divide
(The Industry Standard)
Congress ponders Internet privacy plans
(InfoWorld.com)
How to guard your online privacy
(PC World Online)
Vendors broach end-user privacy issues
(InfoWorld.com)
Feds, states grow receptive to privacy legislation
(The Industry Standard)

Federal Trade Commission

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