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Privacy on the Internet
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October 10, 1996: 8:24 p.m. ET
Congress asks FTC to study ways to protect personal information
From Correspondent Irv Chapman
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WASHINGTON (CNNfn) - As society becomes more wired to technology, consumers are growing more concerned about protecting their privacy.
With the escalating popularity of the Internet and commercial online services, personal information is readily available to just about anyone with a computer.
That has many consumers scared, and a new Equifax/Harris poll indicated that two-thirds of those surveyed don't want their names sold to mailing lists without their knowledge.
The issue has caught the attention of Congress, and a bipartisan Senate group has asked the Federal Trade Commission to study what can be done prevent invasions of privacy.
"When you're online, anybody can keep track of anything you do," said Christine Varney of the FTC. "They can sell it, they can match it with other information that's easily available to them, come up with profiles on you about lifestyle issues that you may or may not want people to know."
Leslie Byrne, director of the office of Consumer Affairs, said direct mailers should not have access to any information without the consent of the consumer. "It's just common sense that they have to affirm that they want to be on a list," she said.
But that prospect alarms businesses with experience in other countries where privacy laws are strict.
Marty Taschdjian of U S West said privacy rules can become a barrier for companies trying enter a market. (199K WAV) or (199K AIFF)
Lamar Smith of Visa went even further to say that the consequences of the laws can lead to higher interest rates and less available credit.
The FTC is scheduled to make its recommendations in April. In the meantime, the online industry is developing its own safeguards, hoping to prevent government regulation.
New programs already allow computer users to block out Internet solicitations and give them the option of selectively circulating their names. 
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