privacy policies

for a list of resources on this topic, see the technology policy bibliography 

·         What is a privacy policy?

·         Which statutes mandate privacy policies?  What types of data warrant special protection in the US? What does a  good privacy policy include, according to the Federal Trade Commission?

·         What happens if a company violates its privacy policy?  To date, which companies have been prosecuted for privacy policy violations?  Which companies have settled charges? 

·         How understandable are most privacy policy, according to empirical research?  To what extent to users care about privacy online?  Do users care what companies do with their data, according to research?

·         Why did companies start drafting online privacy policies even prior to a legal requirement to do so?

·         What are other countries’ approached to privacy policies/ disclosure of privacy practices? Is the US more or less protective?  Why?