TRUSTe's Fran Maier Testifies on the Spy Act, Bill H.R. 964, and Industry Self-Regulation
Washington, D.C. – March 15, 2007 - Fran Maier, executive director of TRUSTe, offered expert commentary on bill H.R. 964, “The Spy Act,” before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives. TRUSTe, the nation’s leading independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Internet privacy and trust, adamantly supports a federal law to provide baseline protections for consumers from spyware.
Maier discussed private sector initiatives to encourage and maintain best practices for downloadable software that, in conjunction with a federal law, will provide Internet users relief from problems associated with spyware and unwanted consumer advertising and tracking software. Maier recommended that H.R. 964 include a safe harbor for industry self-regulatory compliance programs such as TRUSTed Downloads. TRUSTed Downloads, sponsored by TRUSTe and partners AOL, CNET Networks, Computer Associates, Microsoft, Verizon and Yahoo! with input from the Center for Democracy and Technology, certifies consumer downloadable software and serves as the model for industry best practices.
About TRUSTe
TRUSTe is the leading global privacy management solutions provider and offers a broad suite of solutions that enable multinational companies to safely and efficiently handle the customer data powering their online businesses - including advertising, cloud services, mobile applications, and websites. Over 5,000 web properties from top companies like Apple, Disney, eBay, Forbes, HP, and Microsoft rely on TRUSTe to ensure compliance with evolving and complex international privacy requirements. TRUSTe's mission, based on a "Truth in Privacy" framework, is built on a solid foundation of transparency, choice and accountability regarding the collection and use of personal information. TRUSTe's privacy seal is recognized and trusted by millions of consumers worldwide as a sign of responsible privacy practices. For additional information on TRUSTe and its offerings, please visit http://www.truste.com.