TRUSTe UNVEILS NEW INTERNATIONAL PRIVACY SERVICE ENABLING COMPANIES TO GLOBALIZE THEIR PRIVACY APPROACH

Microsoft's MSN 8 First to Utilize Service Offering Consumers Certified Privacy Policies and Dispute Resolution in their Native Language

San Francisco, CA – November 25, 2002 – TRUSTe, the non-profit organization widely known for its leading privacy certification and seal program, today announced the launch and immediate availability of its International Privacy Service to certify privacy policies and offer its dispute resolution services in foreign languages for United States-based companies with global operations.  Today's news signifies TRUSTe's move to help companies maximize their share of the $12.8 trillion in global online trade expected by 2006, according to Forrester Research, and help consumers worldwide make informed privacy choices.

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the first company to make use of TRUSTe's International Privacy Service, extending TRUSTe's privacy policy certification and Watchdog Dispute Resolution to all 14 of its foreign language MSN Web sites serving the European Union.  Driven by demand from TRUSTe members like Microsoft, TRUSTe has begun offering these services to help companies further their trusting relationships with customers regardless of geographic locale or language.

"Our objective is to establish MSN as the most trustworthy Internet service worldwide by incorporating privacy best practices into products, policies and compliance efforts," said Diane McDade, privacy product manager for MSN.  "Through this expansion of their policy certification and dispute resolution services, TRUSTe's International Privacy Service is helping MSN add another layer of privacy assurance to our European customers."

TRUSTe's International Privacy Service coupled with its Japan Privacy Seal Program and EU Safe Harbor Privacy Seal Program comprise TRUSTe's growing set of products serving the needs of companies utilizing networked technologies to conduct business in a global economy.  The Japan Privacy Seal Program extends TRUSTe's certification, oversight and dispute resolution functions to Japanese companies conducting business via Japanese language Web sites.  The TRUSTe EU Safe Harbor Privacy Seal Program helps U.S.-based companies conducting online business transactions with European Union citizens comply with the Safe Harbor Privacy Framework set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"We recognize that, like the Internet itself, privacy issues associated with networked technologies transcend both geographic and cultural boundaries," said Fran Maier, executive director of TRUSTe.  "Helping global brands communicate their privacy practices to consumers and resolve disputes in a way that is cognizant of language differences and cultural sensitivities reinforces our commitment to helping build trusting relationships and goes a long way in extending the TRUSTe brand."

For companies interested in learning more about TRUSTe's International Privacy Service or the TRUSTe Privacy Seal and Certification program in general, please contact bizdev@truste.org or 415.618.3405.

About TRUSTe
TRUSTe is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to enabling individuals and organizations to establish trusting relationships based on respect for personal identity and information in the evolving networked world.

Founded in 1997, TRUSTe runs an award-winning global privacy certification and seal program. Its seal programs are considered Safe Harbors for the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the EU Safe Harbor Framework. Today, TRUSTe maintains the largest privacy seal program with more than 1,400 Web sites certified throughout the world including AOL, Microsoft, IBM, Nationwide and The New York Times. TRUSTe's mission extends standards, certification and oversight into email with Bonded Sender and wireless with the Wireless Advisory Committee. For more information on TRUSTe please visit www.truste.org.

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Wiley Rein LLP