The TRUSTe Advocate

May 2006 : Volume 10 : Number 4 : newsletter@truste.org

The Impact of Social Networking
by Mike Torres

Social networking services such as Windows Live Spaces and MySpace connect thousands of individuals who do not know each other personally. Yet it isn’t always apparent to users which aspects of their personal life these sites and search engines make available to classmates, friends, and complete strangers. In this brave new world of massively connected online services, how do you design a service to be social while maintaining end-user privacy? Mike Torres of Windows Live Spaces shares some of his team’s guidelines. More...

Return Path Refashions Bonded Sender as Sender Score Certified

Last fall, Return Path acquired Bonded Sender, the largest and oldest email accreditation “whitelist” program on the Internet. After conducting significant research and redesign, the company recently announced that it was relaunching the program as Sender Score Certified. Many aspects of the program have been improved, and its signature “bond” requirement, a financial guarantee that participating email senders would not spam end users, has been dropped. TRUSTe continues to play a key role in setting program standards and certifying applicants. More...

TRUSTe Selects SubscriberMail to Provide Email Services

TRUSTe has just selected SubscriberMail to manage delivery of the company’s outbound email messages and e-newsletters to its members. We chose the company based on its support of the Sender Score Certified program (see above) and its tough stance on spam. More...

FTC Tips for Parents on Social Networking Sites

As part of its OnGuard Online campaign (see the November-December 2005 issue of the TRUSTe Advocate for details), the Federal Trade Commission has worked with a number of other organizations to develop advice for parents and kids on how to stay safe on social networking sites. The FTC’s social networking safety site offers a number of tips, two downloadable guides -- one for parents, one for teens and tweens -- and links to a number of additional online resources. To learn more about the full OnGuard Online campaign, visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov.

Tip: Reduce Watchdog complaints by ensuring that the contact information on your privacy statement is current and accurate!
by Michael Victor

TRUSTe routinely receives complaints from consumers reporting that they cannot get in touch with a Web site because of outdated contact information. More...

Correction

In the April 2006 issue of the TRUSTe Advocate, the editors misspelled Alan Chapell’s name. We regret the error.

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TRUSTe is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers the Internet's first and largest privacy seal program.

685 Market Street, Suite 270
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 520-3400
Email: privacyseals@truste.org
Web: www.truste.org

The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the contributing authors. TRUSTe presents these views as a service to our members, and does not necessarily share or endorse these views.

Find even more conferences and workshops on TRUSTe’s events page.

INBOX 2006
Date: May 31-June 1, 2006
Location: San Jose, Calif.
In just two days, the professionals who attend INBOX 2006 will get a rock-solid email system and email marketing plan. TRUSTe members can get a free Buyer Pass, or save $100 on a full-conference pass. Use customer code TRUS6 when signing up online.
More . . .

TRUSTe's 9th Birthday Party
Date: June 7, 2006
Location: San Francisco
Join TRUSTe and our friends as we celebrate our 9th birthday. We will host an event at our offices following the DHS Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee Meeting. Contact Mary Anne Timothy to RSVP.

Privacy Laws & Business Annual Conference
Date: July 3-5, 2006
Location: Cambridge, UK
Avoid data losses and accidental misuse of individuals’ privacy rights by attending the Privacy Laws & Business 19th Annual International Conference, which provides you with business strategies and good practice models. More . . .

KnowledgeNets

TRUSTe-IAPP KnowledgeNet events are free local networking luncheons open to all TRUSTe sealholders and IAPP members. Each KnowledgeNet features a speaker covering a top-of-mind privacy issue, followed by an opportunity for networking. Currently on the schedule:

Dublin, Ireland: June 9
Speakers: Kieran Glynn, Hewlett-Packard Galway, and Bronwyn Boyle, Ernst & Young

Atlanta: June 15
Speaker: Anne Adams, Emory Healthcare

Additional events are in the works for Paris, Miami/South Florida, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. For event dates, times, locations, and speakers as they are released, visit TRUSTe’s events page!

TRUSTe would like to congratulate the following new members on successfully completing our certification process:

AgentMachine.com
AmeriSpan Study Abroad
Applied Merchant Systems
Corpedia
Cybertania
ISoldMyGun
List Media
Media Traffic Agency
My Itin
NASDAQ
Pragmatix
Sachin Inc. dba Banvari
Sitepro.com
Survey Analytics
TheLadders.com
TICKETFINDER.com
Ticketsplus
Victory Solutions