In today’s Daily Caller, I discuss the need for Congressional, rather than FCC, action on broadband reclassification in order to provide optimal benefits for consumers. Here is an excerpt: Broadband Internet access is critical to improving virtually every aspect of a consumer’s... Read The Story...

At the Future of Privacy Forum’s program on Thursday 1/28 (Data Privacy Day), Nat Wood with the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer and Business and Education Bureau discussed a new publication, “Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online.”   It’s a great new guide for parents, caregivers, and teachers to help them talk to kids about social networking, cyberbullying, sexting, and other online safety issues.  Check out the guide at www.onguardonline.gov.  To order free copies of the publication go to bulkorder.ftc.gov.

Thursday was Data Privacy Day. Recognized by the U.S. Congress and celebrated each January 28^th, Data Privacy Day is an important time to acknowledge the benefits of the Internet while also making sure to secure your information online. While celebrating Data Privacy Day, we must recognize that responsible habits online will help to maintain our privacy on the Internet.

Spam is one issue that can become a problem for many Internet users if they are not careful. Spam emails (unsolicited bulk messages sent indiscriminately) could also contain viruses that will harm your computer – causing damage to not only your laptop, desktop or wireless phone, but also to your reputation. To shield computers from harmful spam, network operators continue to establish guidelines for managing the safety and security of the network. However, as technologies continue to advance and cyber criminals find new ways to capture our personal information, we must take the necessary actions to be responsible for our online safety.

Click here for an article on the increasing prominence of spam in 2010.

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Consumer Resources

Below are additional resources to more information about online privacy.

Consumer Guide to Online Privacy (PDF)
Consumer Online Privacy Survey
2008 Online Safety Survey
bNetS@vvy
www.onguardonline.gov
www.ikeepsafe.org/
www.getnetwise.org
www.fosi.org
www.enough.org

Other Organizations

National Caucus and Center on Black Aged:
http://www.ncba-aged.org/

National Consumers League:
http://www.nclnet.org/