We have long been involved with commercial free speech issues, and we work on privacy and Internet issues as well. The NCC is a coalition of consumer organizations interested in expanding consumer choice in the marketplace. There are some central issues which must be resolved before discussing the FTC s specific questions. With all of the discussion of privacy of commercial data on the Internet, it is strange that noone has actually defined the term. Others say privacy is a result of living in a large society where people do not know each other s reputations and are not able to impose social constraints on others behavior.
Privacy is one consequence, or cost, of growing numbers of strangers.
Whenever an invasion of privacy is claimed, there are usually competing values at stake. In this sense, privacy is not a right, it is a preference. The restraints placed on government actions on the Internet are rightly and necessarily stricter than those placed on companies and individuals. Restraining government action underlies our entire political system, for the government has unique powers of coercion. Unfortunately, government has been less than exemplary in this realm, and has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of acceptable behavior.