Hitting Refresh on Privacy Policies: Brookings

Technology and online applications have developed swiftly and many people still do not realize how much private information they release with every choice and click online. US legislators and policymakers express dissatisfaction with prrivate policies that regard issuance of notices, often lengthy and cryptic, as consent. A Brookings report highlights the problems with privacy policies: over-notification, imbalance of knowledge between companies and the most vigilant customers, and little choice by users on how businesses might use personal information. “In November, Senate Democrats released a set of privacy principles that propose to shift this burden to the companies that collect and use data,” the authors report. “This is a key step toward legislation that sets responsibilities and boundaries for businesses that apply regardless of what disclosures their users read or boxes they tick.” The article reviews proposals, some of which seek to shorten privacy notices and others lengthen the documents. The Brookings report urges transparency, recognition of various audiences and contexts, along with accountability for corporate officials. – YaleGlobal