Online Privacy Overview
Current Laws and Controversies
Growing use of computers and the Internet is raising concernsabout the privacy of personal information collected when usingthe Internet or stored on computers and acquired by individualswith unlawful intent — particularly "identity theft"(assuming someone else’s identity using personal information suchas Social Security numbers).In the 105th Congress, two laws were enacted related to theseissues: the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act and theChildren’s Online Privacy Protection Act. In the 106th Congress,six bills address Internet privacy in whole or in part, althoughthe emphasis by Congress and the Administration remains on industryself-regulation rather than legislation.Consumer Identity TheftThe widespread use of computers for storing…
