Right of Privacy

Resources in this category:

Better Business Bureau Online: Understanding Privacy
http://www.bbbonline.org/UnderstandingPrivacy/

This site contains useful information about and explanations of privacy and privacy laws pertaining to the internet. There is also a glossary which defines terms common to internet privacy, and resources for businesses and consumers.

Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) Privacy Issues
http://www.cdt.org/privacy/guide/start/

The Center for Democracy and Technology is an organization that promotes democracy and constitutional liberties online and elsewhere. The CDT Privacy Guide contains various sections including a privacy guide with links to and explanations of legal rights, online privacy tips, and a privacy resource library.

Consumer Privacy Guide: Law Protection
http://www.consumerprivacyguide.org/law/

This site lists links to various laws which pertain to privacy. There are links for privacy concerning telecommunications, video rental, cable television, and many more that affect many of us everyday.

Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) Online Guide to Privacy Resources
http://epic.org/privacy/privacy_resources_faq.html

This site provides a list of organizations that focus on privacy, a list of links for further online privacy information, and a list of print publications about privacy. The user may search under the category which best serves his or her needs.

Fair Credit Reporting Act
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fcra.htm#602

This site contains the text of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The Act ensures that financial institutions protect the privacy of their patrons, and that the credit histories of those patrons are accurate and private.

Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA) Title 20 Chapter 31 Subchapter III US Code
http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode20/usc_se...

This law protects the privacy of all students in schools funded by applicable programs in the Department of Education. FERPA defines privacy of school records, who may access school records, and under what conditions the records may be released.

Federal Citizen Information Center- Privacy Resources
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/privacy_resources.htm

This site contains a list of sites that provide information on financial, internet, medical, and identification privacy. Many of these sites contain information on citizens’ legal rights under the laws, and links to the full texts of privacy laws. While some of these sites are run by the government, others are non-government sites which provide concise explanations of citizen’s legal rights under the law.

Federal Trade Commission - Information Privacy & Security
http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/index.html

Part of the Federal Trade Commission’s mission is to protect the privacy of US citizens. On this site, which is part of the FTC site, one can read information and find laws about protecting personal privacy and the privacy of children. At this site, there is also the FTC’s Privacy Agenda which details the FTC’s efforts to protect the privacy of the US citizens.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act: Privacy of Consumer Financial Information
http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/glbact/glboutline.htm

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act documents the financial privacy rights of consumers. This site outlines the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and presents it for easy use by consumers.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/admnsimp/pl104191.htm

This site presents the HIPPA act. Here users can read about HIPAA’s role in protecting privacy of health care consumers, preventing fraud, and improving health care systems.

Health Privacy
http://www.healthprivacy.org/

The Health Privacy Project website contains links to information on federal health laws, state health laws, and other health-related privacy resources. This site serves as a good starting point for anyone looking for information on health privacy, including HIPAA.

Kidz Privacy
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/kidzprivacy/index.html

A friendly site designed for children, teachers, media, businesses, and parents, Kidz Privacy provides information about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Searchers can read COPPA and find out about how to protect children’s privacy online. This site offers many downloadable files with easy to read information about online privacy for children.

Legal Information Institute: Law about…the Right of Privacy
http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Privacy

A site managed by Cornell University Law School, Law about…the Right of Privacy provides much information about personal information privacy rights. This site explains privacy rights and uses privacy law and case rulings as examples. Many of the cases and laws link directly to the full-text versions.

Privacy Act Issuances
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/privacyact/index.html

According to the Privacy Act of 1974, the "Office of the Federal Register (OFR) must biennially compile and publish (1) descriptions of system of records maintained on individuals by Federal agencies which were published in the Federal Register; and (2) rules of each agency which set out the procedures that agencies will follow in helping individuals who request information about their records." This is the site where the OFR has published these biennial compilations since 1995.

Privacy Act of 1974
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=br...

This site contains the full text of the Privacy Act of 1974 which regulates the government information concerning individuals. This Act guards against misuse of the private citizens’ information which is held by the government. The Act details citizens’ privacy rights under US law.

Privacy Policy Statement Generator
http://www.oecd.org/document/39/0,2340,en_2649_34255_2886327...

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has found that privacy policies help create trusting relationships online. "The Generator, which has been endorsed by the OECD's 30 member countries, aims to offer guidance on compliance with [OECD's] Privacy Guidelines and to help organisations develop privacy policies and statements for display on their Web sites."

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
http://www.privacyrights.org/

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is a nonprofit consumer education and advocacy program. This site provides explanations of privacy rights, and advice on protecting your privacy, all in a simple format. At this site, one can read privacy-related articles and reference fact sheets that offer advice on privacy protection in various situations, such as online shopping and workplace privacy.

Privacy.org: The Site for News, Information, and Action
http://privacy.org/

Privacy.org is a project of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) and Privacy International. The site contains news on privacy issues and laws, recent and archived. There are also links to international and domestic governmental privacy resources.

Wire and Electronic Communications Interception and Interception of Oral Communications Title 18 Chapter 119 US Code
http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/18C119.txt

This is the full text of the chapter, from the US Code, which explains the privacy rights concerning transmissions over wire, electronic, and oral communication methods. This document explains when interception of communication is legal and illegal, and which methods of interception, and which circumstances, are exceptions.