If there is no law requiring disclosure, then there's nothing to enforce. That's a real effectiveness problem. But let's suspend judgement for the moment. We will contribute to the various countries' efforts to deal with the privacy issues and we take those efforts as sincere. We will assist with some complementary action.
Privacy lends itself very well to the approach of a methodological assessment of performance.
Building on the work of the recent Global Internet Liberty Campaign survey of international privacy laws, we are embarking on a global research project on internet shopping which will include a country by country assessment of privacy practice and consumer redress. We will on report on companies - and tell you whether their practice is good or bad. We will tell consumers in what OECD countries we think it is safe to shop in, in relation to their privacy, and if there are countries that they should consider avoiding. The initial parts of this investigation of net shopping begin in November. So, we will be able to assist consumers, hopefully to offer them much assurance.