Hoofnagle, Chris Jay (2005). Privacy Self-Regulation: A Decade of
Disappointment. Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). March 4,
2005. http://www.epic.org/reports/decadedisappoint.html
This report is a good introduction to US privacy information regulation
history, and the privacy threats posed by the current lack of federal
legislation on Internet privacy. The report argues that the US Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) can protect privacy better than industry can
with self-regulation, which is the status quo for electronic
information privacy. Evidence to support this conclusion includes the
success of the FTC Telemarketing Do-Not-Call Registry, which was far
more effective than pre-existing voluntary efforts by industry in terms
of respecting user privacy. In addition, in the past decade,
technologies and marketing practices have emerged that pose serious
threats to privacy, but privacy practices around them have worsened.
Municipal and community broadband projects may have a role to play in
helping to ensure better privacy practices for users, whether through
advocating for relevant legislation, or ensuring that local broadband
networks have high privacy standards.