The TRUSTe Advocate

TRUSTe’s Executive Director Looks Back at 2005 -- and Ahead at 2006
by Fran Maier

The past year saw TRUSTe building new products and improving existing ones. For Fran Maier, highlights from the past 12 months include launching the Email Privacy Seal program, developing a way for organizations to apply for TRUSTe seals online, hosting the first-ever “Phish Fry” event, and setting new records for membership. And that’s not all. More...

2006 State Legislative Outlook
by Emily Hackett

Over the past few years, state legislatures have emerged as the crucible for laws ensuring the privacy and security of consumer data. This year promises to be no exception. The executive director of the Internet Alliance gives a quick overview of the leading Internet and e-commerce issues to be debated in state legislatures this year, including data security breaches, phishing, violent video games, and upcoming technologies such as VoIP and RFID. More...

AppLabs Chosen as Software Testing Partner for TRUSTe’s Trusted Download Program

TRUSTe just announced that it has chosen AppLabs Technologies to test the technical operation of applicants to TRUSTe’s new Trusted Download program. The program, which begins beta testing early this year, promotes ethical behavior among downloadable-software makers by publishing a “whitelist” of certified applications. AppLabs will be responsible for vetting potential sealholders’ software for the whitelist to make sure it doesn’t exhibit the most pernicious characteristics of unwelcome, hard-to-remove spyware. More...

Consumers and Businesses Give TRUSTe’s Watchdog Process High Marks

The online Watchdog Dispute Resolution Form allows consumers to report violations of posted privacy statements and specific privacy concerns pertaining to TRUSTe member Web sites. Over the past two years, TRUSTe has asked sealholders and consumers who have gone through the Watchdog process to complete an internal survey about their experiences. The results are in: 70 percent of consumers and businesses stated that they are highly satisfied with both the Watchdog form and the resolution process. More...

EPIC Year in Review

At the end of December, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a public-interest research center based in Washington, D.C., devoted its e-newsletter to the topic of “Top Ten Privacy Stories of 2005.” The stories cover such controversial topics as the renewal of the Patriot Act, RFID issues, and voter privacy. EPIC also presents its predictions for the top ten stories that will attract media attention in the coming year. More...

Tip: Make sure TRUSTe has the most up-to-date contact information for your company.
by Sallie Greene

Since the relationship between your company and your TRUSTe account manager is the first level of support you receive as a sealholder, it is important to keep our records up to date reflecting the current status of your operation. More...

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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.