AFFIRMATIVE-CONSUMER/INTERNET-SOLVENCY 372

GOVERNMENT ACTION IS JUSTIFIED

PRIVACY PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET NECESSITATE GOVERNMENT ACTION

PAUL STARR, The American Prospect, March 27, 2000 - April 10, 2000; Pg. 30 TITLE: The Electronic Commons; THE PROMISE OF THE NEW PUBLIC DOMAIN // acs-VT2001

At the same time, the commercial development of the Internet has generated problems that seem unlikely to be solved without government regulation and, indeed, without international treaties. Privacy has been the leading casualty. Commercial Web sites have such strong interests in data about their visitors' surfing habits and personal characteristics that they are unlikely to desist on their own from the abuses that have become rampant. Individual Web sites may post their privacy policies, but it is implausible to expect visitors to check the fine print -- this is what we hire governments to do.

THE STATE HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST TO PROTECT ONLINE CONSUMERS AND THEIR PRIVACY

Suzanne Choney, The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 21, 1999, SECTION: COMPUTER LINK Pg. 2 TITLE: Open debate on privacy puts spotlight on risks // acs-EE2001

"The major fear people have about going online is the concern over the invasion of their privacy," she said. "The problem with self-regulation is that to date, the vast majority of online privacy policies aren't privacy policies; they're disclosure statements saying how they're going to use the data."

The state "does have a compelling interest" in passing such laws, Givens said. "Our populace is highly technically literate. The state should want to ensure consumers' privacy and safety on the Net."

WE NEED PRIVACY LAWS TO STOP CORPORATIONS FROM CREATING DOSSIERS ON INDIVIDUALS

WILLIAM SAFIRE; Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, The Houston Chronicle, April 04, 2000, SECTION: A; Pg. 18 TITLE: Americans' privacy is taking a beating // acs-EE2001

Turn now to the second great encroacher on our personal privacy: merged corporate empires pooling information to zero in on consumer tastes and locations.

Privacy laws are needed to stop them. Your employer can now find out what drugs you take and what your school marks were. Your mortgage lender can now tell what credit card purchases you make. Your global communications conglomerate can track and share with marketers your taste in news and entertainment.