The protection of personal identifying information through posted Internet privacy policies

A qualitative evaluation of popular United States web site properties determines patterns of deficiency that contribute to the American public's and the European Union's concerns with the inadequacies of safeguards for collected personal identifying information. Privacy policies, as posted on web sites of 42 of the top 50 United States web and digital media properties, are examined in detail to determine aspects of the web site and its corresponding privacy policy that may lead to confusion when encountered by the Internet user. These privacy policies are further evaluated under the global perspective for safeguard guidelines as recommended by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.