The ACLU on the issue of privacy and data protection located at
<http://www.aclu.org/privacy>.
Called "Defend Your Data," the Web site is part of a new
campaign to raise public awareness of the threat to personal
privacy posed by new technologies.
What They Do Know Can Hurt You!
ACLU Launches Special Web Collection On Privacy and Data Protection
<http://www.aclu.org/privacy>
Urging netizens everywhere to defend their data, the American Civil
Liberties Union this week launched a special web site to focus public
attention on the threat to personal privacy through the collection
and widespread distribution of personal data.
The new web collection -- which can be found at
<http://www.aclu.org/privacy> --
features several interactive elements, including:
-- A complaint form where individuals can spell out their privacy horror
stories.
-- A tool that shows individuals just what can be learned about them on the
web.
-- A survey and postcard utility.
-- Faxable letters to Congress.
-- A discussion forum.
The web collection marks the ACLU's increasing efforts to protect
individual privacy in America. "We clearly have our work cut out
for us to derail what has been an endless stream of proposals that
attack our privacy rights," said ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser.
"And although many believe widespread dissemination of our data
is harmless, the ACLU believes that what they do know, can hurt us."
Glasser pointed out that 200 years ago nearly every bit of personal
information about an individual was kept at home, on paper, and
stored as a personal effect. "To protect privacy of this information,"
he said, "early Americans insisted on the Fourth Amendment,
which established the home as a person's 'castle,' inviolate against
government searches except when warranted by a court for very
specific and particular criminal investigations."
The Fourth Amendment still protects the privacy of our homes, but
personal information isn't exclusively stored there anymore, Glasser
said. Now, a wide array of personal information about each of us is
kept electronically by others -- by medical insurers, employers,
credit card companies, banks, phone companies and a wide range
of government and private agencies.
"Some of these entities exist solely to sell our personal information,
no matter how private," Glasser said. "And new technologies keep
arising to develop, collect, store and disseminate the most private
information about each of us, with few if any legal protections."
A leading privacy advocate, the ACLU is a nationwide, non-partisan
organization dedicated to defending and preserving the Bill of Rights
for all individuals through litigation, legislation and public education.
Headquartered in New York City, the ACLU has 53 staffed affiliates
in major cities, more than 300 chapters nationwide, and a legislative
office in Washington. The bulk of its $35 million annual budget is
raised by contributions from members -- 275,000 strong -- and gifts
and grants from other individuals and foundations. The ACLU does
not accept government funds.
The new web collection can be found at:
<http://www.aclu.org/privacy>
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