The Digital Beat Vol. After examining three case studies and an overview of the policy and practical issues relevant to nonprofits involved in e-commerce , this article addresses the critical issue of privacy and the regulation of the collection of personal information online. This article however, focuses on the non-profit sector which, with few exceptions outlined below, is exempt from current privacy regulation and has some leeway in adopting its own standards and practices. Privacy Matters Privacy is a fundamental human right and essential to the full development of our human potential.
Privacy therefore is regarded by many as fundamental to human development and expression of self.
Privacy allows us to experiment with our behavior. It enables us to learn and not to fear making mistakes as we do not fear being watched. Privacy allows us to develop complex personalities and not to be judged indefinitely by a limited range of data about our past behavior. In other words, privacy is not only essential to our individual humanity but also essential to a complex, diverse, creative and innovative society. Moreover, privacy protection is and will be one of the key factors determining the ubiquity and success of e-commerce.