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Internet Privacy
European
Union Directive on Privacy
The first real strides toward addressing privacy issues are emerging in Europe. The European Union Directive on Data Protection, which went into effect in 1998, regulates the use of data pertaining to European citizens. It specifically requires companies that want personal information to explain what the information will be used for and to get the individual's permission. Companies must make customer data files available upon request, much as U.S. companies must grant customers access to their personal credit histories. Web site operators may not use cookies to track visitor's movements and preferences or sell e-mail addresses without first obtaining permission. As a result of this directive, no company may deliver personal information about European Union (EU) citizens to countries whose privacy laws do not meet the EU standards. The directive may ultimately establish a precedent for Internet privacy that other nations will emulate.
Additional information concerning the EU's media,
information society and data protection can be obtained
from Europa
the European Union's server.
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