An Overview of International Cyber-Security Awareness Raising and Educational Initiatives (2011)

Campaign Name:

Empowering Consumers. Protecting Privacy.

Organisation:

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

Main URL:

http://www.privacyrights.org/

Dates:

1992 – Present

Costs:

Not mentioned

– Funded by the Rose Foundation Consumer Privacy Rights Fund, California Consumer Protection Foundation, Roger L. Kohn Fun, and Consumer Federation of America.

Topics covered:

*Number next to topic notes the number of subtopics within each category. Each subtopic consists of an article related to the category, and links to other privacy institutions.

– Privacy Basics (24)

– Background Checks and Workplace (31)

– Banking and Finance (56)

– Credit and Credit Reports (25)

– Debt Collecting (9)

– Education (4)

– Harassment and Stalking (4)

– Identity Theft and Data Breaches (47)

– Insurance (10)

– Junk Mail/Faxes/Email (16)

– Medical Privacy (32)

– Online Privacy and Technology (57)

– Privacy when you shop online (16)

– Public Records and Informational Brokers (18)

– Social Security Numbers (10)

– Telephone Privacy (30)

– Additional Readings (11)

Target Audience:

– Parents

– General Public

Methodology:

– Ask subscribers to post the site’s link on Twitter

– Online Literature

Evaluation:

Not found

Additional Information:

The Privacy Right Clearinghouse’s goals are as follows:

‘1) Raise consumers’ awareness of how technology affects personal privacy

2) Empower consumers to take action to control their own personal information by providing practical tups on privacy protection

3) Respond to specific privacy – related complaints form consumers, intercede on their behalf, and, when appropriate, refer them to the proper organizations for further assistance.

4) Document the nature of consumers’ complaints and questions about privacy in reports, testimony, and speeches and make them available to policy makers, industry representatives, consumer advocates, and the media.

5) Advocate for consumers’ privacy rights in local, state and federal public policy proceedings, including legislative testimony, regulatory agency hearings, task forces, and study commissions as well as conferences and workshops.’

In an effort to achieve these goals, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse offers a number of services to citizens throughout the nation. A hotline, which can be found on the site, is offered to people to consumers who would like to report privacy abuses or receive information on privacy protection. The site also provides clients with fact sheets on privacy issues in both English and Spanish. Additionally, the organization hosts a ‘referral service,’ which allows journalists and policy makers to network with victims of privacy abuses and are willing to talk to the media or testify in legislative and regulatory agency hearings. Lastly, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse reaches out to the community and businesses by making presentations at conferences, employee training sessions, and civic and community group meetings.

Sources:

1. ‘Home Page’ Privacy Rights Clearinghouse <http://www.privacyrights.org/> (accessed 20 May 2010).

2. ‘Site Map’ Privacy Rights Clearinghouse <http://www.privacyrights.org/sitemap> (accessed 20 May 2010).

3. ‘Privacy Clearinghouse’ Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_Rights_Clearinghouse> (accessed 20 May 2010).