My Results: State of Online Privacy
Communicate About Privacy
If you want to keep your information private, take action!
- Submit complaints to businesses that don’t respect your privacy preferences. Alert other users to the specific problem via review systems.
- Write to government representatives expressing your views:
- Legislators and the President: Contact the U.S. Congress and the White House
- Regulators for Businesses and Banks: Contact the Federal Trade Commission
Think About Consequences
Before you provide personal information to get an app or online service, ask yourself: How might this app or service benefit from having this information? Could those benefits be detrimental to me?
When deciding whether to communicate sensitive information online, consider that people, companies, and governments might make mistakes, not behave ethically, or or might not follow the law—nor even their own policies—about how to treat your private information. In many cases, there may not even be any laws governing the use of your information.
Learn About Online Privacy
Educate yourself about current laws and regulations. Be aware that laws are continually changing in order to adapt to current technology.
- Up-to-Date Overview of State Laws in the U.S.: State Laws Related to Internet Privacy
- What to do if law enforcement asks to search your electronic device: Know Your Rights
Adjust Your Privacy Settings
Keep up with changes to privacy settings and policies.
- Pay attention to updates from services, websites, and app providers about privacy settings and policies. As a backup, you can check out this update site:
- Service That Tracks Changes to Privacy Policies for Major Sites: TOSBack: The Terms-of-Service Tracker
- Update software/apps, as new privacy settings may become available.
- Regularly review and update your privacy settings in case the options have changed. Use these guides to help you check the settings most important to you:
- Directory of Resources for Managing Your Settings: Privacy Settings How-To's
Resources to Learn More About the Topic
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Privacy Laws and Regulations
- Summary of the Current State of U.S. Online Privacy Laws: Internet Law - Privacy (from USLegal)
- Analysis of What the United States Constitution Says or Implies About Privacy: The Right of Privacy
- For Parents - Protecting Children’s Privacy Online – A Guide for Parents, Carers and Educators
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Consumer Privacy Policies and the Value of Information
- An Engaging Feature-Length Film, and an Accompanying Resource Website: Terms and Conditions May Apply
- Quick Explanation of What's in Privacy Policies: Privacy Policies: What You Should Know
- Explanations, Advice, and Resources About (the Lack of) Online Privacy Protections: Only You Have an Interest in Maintaining Your Privacy
