Web sites fail global privacy standards--US study
Privacy from Companies
'A survey of 75 corporate Web sites released Thursday found that none measured up to a set of international standards for ensuring the privacy of customers' personal information. While many of the Web sites surveyed were found to provide adequate data privacy in one or two areas, the Andersen Consulting study found that none met all six privacy guidelines developed between the United States and the European Union last year.'

Wow! Must have been harsh guidelines!

'The guidelines require companies to: notify consumers what they do with personal data such as names and e-mail addresses; use the information only for its stated purpose; allow consumers to examine and correct data collected about them; give them a choice to forbid sharing that information for marketing purposes; store the data in a secure manner; and provide recourse for consumers whose privacy has been violated.'

Or not.