TRUSTe Records 15% Privacy Seal Certification Revenue Growth
A Year-to-Date Record 107 Organizations Join TRUSTe Privacy Seal Program in 2006
San Francisco, CA – August 2, 2006 - TRUSTe, the leading privacy certification and seal program, has recorded 14.9 % growth in TRUSTe Privacy Seal certification revenue during the period January 2006 to July 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005. Representing a record number of year-to-date certifications, TRUSTe has certified 107 new Web sites in 2006, including leading brands such as the NFL, Siebel Systems, Gaiam and NASDAQ.
“As consumers become increasingly savvy about protecting their personal information and privacy online, organizations find TRUSTe Privacy Seal certification to be an effective way to demonstrate their commitment to trustworthy practices,” said Fran Maier, executive director and president of TRUSTe. “The 107 companies certified in 2006 join more than 2,000 organizations committed to building consumer trust online through participation in the TRUSTe Privacy Seal program.”
TRUSTe sealholders report strong value from TRUSTe Privacy Seal certification. To earn TRUSTe certification, email service provider BigString Corporation (http://www.bigstring.com/)—which previously had no posted privacy policy—developed a comprehensive privacy statement that clearly communicates the organization’s practices to customers. In two months since earning TRUSTe certification, BigString Corporation has received no customer questions about how personal information is stored and used. Prior to certification, BigString estimated that questions about privacy and personal information comprised 5-10% of all customer support emails.
“As an email service provider that requires personal information to register new users, ensuring that our customers are informed and have choice over how their information is used is vital to our business,” said Adam Kotkin, chief operating officer, BigString Corporation. “Thanks to the TRUSTe privacy certification program, BigString Web sites now effectively communicate our responsible privacy practices to customers.”
Jamie Cheng, co-founder of Helium Report (http://www.heliumreport.com), an independent resource guide which assists affluent families in making high-value purchase decisions, said: “The TRUSTe seal is the gold standard in demonstrating trust to our discerning customers. TRUSTe’s expertise and high level of personal attention made the certification process both simple and effective.”
TRUSTe-Certified Organizations in 2006 include:
AEBN
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.