The data show that Americans are concerned about invasions of their privacy caused by accessing the Internet. There are legitimate concerns regarding the collection and transmission of personal information via the Internet, especially information gathered from children. The Administration believes that the private sector should take the lead in implementing meaningful, consumer-friendly privacy regimes. We would like for companies to take steps to notify customers of their privacy policies, process consumer privacy preferences, protect customer data, and handle inquiries and complaints. These programs provide a seal to businesses that post privacy policies that meet certain criteria.
Parents are also concerned about their children's safety while using the Internet.
The Administration is committed to empowering parents, teachers, and other guardians with tools to keep children safe while online. Continued Monitoring Good public policy requires a good factual foundation. A new analytical tool to gauge the status of Internet connectivity could be a Household Access Index, designed to highlight progress or deficiencies in this regard. A composite index could be developed that represents the country's combined penetration for telephones, computers, other Internet access devices, and the Internet. In the final analysis, no one should be left behind as our nation advances into the 21 st Century, where having access to computers and the Internet may be key to becoming a successful member of society.