| New and advanced technologies enable firms to collect, use, disseminate, disclose, and sell Internet users' personal information. Privacy concerns are thus revealed. Self-regulation is preferred by the government and the industry. Unfortunately, the Internet does not provide circumstances for a successful self-regulation regime. This dissertation attempts to assist policy observation and policy making by evaluating policy proposals, analyzing conflicts, and identifying the best ways to deal with online privacy controversies in light of the revealed social conditions and Internet characteristics.; Legislation should be enacted to ensure the industry's consistent and persistent commitment to fair information practices and their compliance. A single, unified set of principles should be articulated. An enforcement mechanism and enforcement power should be included. Establishment of a privacy regulatory authority is essential in enforcing the privacy law. In addition, privacy-protective and privacy-enhanced technologies should be made widely available.; Education should also be given to the citizens to teach them to understand privacy laws and policy, and, the responsibility to handle fair information practices and ability to process personal information, and utilize ways to protect citizens' information privacy on the Internet. Of all these efforts, protection of online privacy cannot be completely effective unless the policy is undertaken at the international level considering the Internet's massive structure and its global presence. |
