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PRESS RELEASE
OTA Pushes For Protection of Consumer Choice and Privacy
“Online safety report cards” to be issued for leading business sectors
Download Principles (PDF)
Seattle, WA – October 6, 2009 – Coinciding with the kickoff of National
Cyber Security Awareness Month, the
Online Trust Alliance (OTA) today announced the release of its Online
Principles, a set of global guidelines for preserving and enhancing consumer
trust and confidence.
In an era of data breaches, e-crime, malicious exploits and diminished
business accountability, OTA is calling on leading commerce sites and banks
to demonstrate their commitment to consumer protection by adopting the
Online Principles. With the explosive growth of online communication and
commerce, companies have accumulated large amounts of personally
identifiable data about their customers. To avert a crisis in customer
confidence, they must now make good data stewardship a corporate
imperative. OTA believes the Principles are the foundation for both
protecting consumers from malicious online behavior as well as reassuring
them about the companies they’ve entrusted with their sensitive data.
OTA first released a draft of its Online Principles for comment in April
2009. Based on feedback from across the industry, the revised Principles
further underscore the needs and opportunities for business accountability,
data stewardship and business practices that improve consumer choice,
preference and control of data.
"One of the biggest challenges we face as a leader in direct marketing is
protecting our respected brand name and customer loyalty. This comes down to
meticulously safeguarding the consumers who continue to trust us with their
personal information," said Sal Tripi, Senior Director of Operations &
Compliance for Publishers Clearing House. "As a member of the steering
committee, Publishers Clearinghouse fully supports OTA’s efforts to help
thwart malicious online activity and give power back to the consumers and
the brands they do business with online."
While intended to thwart abuse and enhance data security, OTA’s Online
Principles also help preserve the benefits consumers receive from online
resources, such as access to free content, email and related services
supported by advertising. Companies that adopt the Principles in
demonstrating good online citizenship will recognize a competitive advantage
in differentiating their brands in the marketplace.
“With the onslaught of deceptive email and online crime, it is incumbent on
all businesses to adopt these Principles to not only help protect their
customers but their digital brands and stockholders,” said Craig Spiezle,
Executive Director of OTA. “Left unchecked, we risk a consumer trust
meltdown. Businesses who adopt these Principles will win consumer trust and
realize a competitive advantage.”
“The Principles afford benefits not only for consumers but also for those
businesses that support them,” said John Scarrow, General Manager, Safety
Services, Microsoft Corporation. “As a founding member of OTA, Microsoft
supports these Principles and looks forward to working with OTA and the
Internet community to adopt these and other practices, with the ultimate
goal of providing consumers with added protection and control of their data
and online privacy.”
Not unlike health departments who publically post scores for restaurants,
similar online compliance needs to be established and reported. Such
information can aid consumers in making informed choices regarding the
security and privacy practices of the sites they frequent. OTA is committed
to issuing online safety report cards on the Fortune 100, Interactive Retail
100 and top financial institutions. It is OTA’s goal to work with
organizational and industry partners to implement tracking and reporting by
mid-2010.
The Principles will be presented at the upcoming
2009 Online Trust Summit on
October 29, 2009, in Philadelphia. Featured speakers including leading
interactive brands including Bank of America, eHarmony, Federal Trade
Commission, Memolink, Inc., Microsoft, Publishers Clearing House, TRUSTe,
Visa and the US Postal Service. Being underwritten in part by leading OTA
members including DigiCert, DMi Partners, MarkMonitor, Memolink, Message
Systems, Microsoft, Port 25 Solutions, Secunia and TRUSTe, the Summit is
open to the public. More information is available at
https://otalliance.org/events/Phila09.html
About The Online Trust Alliance (OTA)
https://otalliance.org/
The mission of OTA is to
create a trusted global online ecosystem and foster the elimination of email
and Internet fraud, abuse and cybercrime; thereby enhancing trust,
confidence, and the protection of businesses and consumers. Through its
member companies and organization affiliates, OTA represents over one
million businesses and 500 million users worldwide with regional chapters in
Asia Pacific, Canada and Europe. OTA is a 501c6 IRS-approved non-profit,
governed by a Board and Steering Committee including Bank of America,
BoxSentry, Datran Media, Epsilon, Goodmail Systems, Iconix, Internet
Identity, Intersections Inc, IronPort (a division of Cisco Systems),
MarkMonitor, Message Systems, Microsoft Corporation, McAfee, Publishers
Clearing House, Return Path, Secunia, Symantec Corporation and VeriSign.
For media-related inquiries and for no-charge press registration, contact:
Liz Shambaugh
Online Trust Alliance
Lizs@otalliance.org
425-785-7234
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