Abstract: . . .  Privacy Policy Survey 1999 Surfer Instructions Background on the Study: Why Surf the Internet Instead of Florida During Spring Break? Privacy is one of the important factors that potentially threatens the growth of electronic commerce. A recent Business Week article reported that privacy was the number one reason why consumers who are not already online do not go online . Other surveys of Internet users have found that at one time or another, the majority decline to provide information requested by a web site due to privacy concerns, and only 2% have great confidence that Internet merchants will handle their personal information responsibly. Privacy , therefore, is also an important issue that potentially affects every business with a consumer Web site. Currently, there are no laws governing Internet privacy for adults. In 1998, Congress passed and President Clinton signed a privacy law for children on the Internet . The purpose of this study is to help the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and others determine if self- regulation is working, or if additional new privacy legislation is needed for the Internet . Whether privacy protection is implemented by good business practice or by law, there are a set of global principles, Fair Information Practices, that if followed, balance business interests in collecting personal information with consumer concerns about the use  . . .
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