英语论文网

aluable commodity that can bring jobs, businesses and customer services. Hence, these factors have created a mounting pressure to collect, hold, process and use personal data, more than before. These factors also have reduced the level of privacy and consumer confidence is lacking in such environment.[4] In some cases, the companies’ failure to disclose the basic technology and data-gather characteristics of their websites has become the focus of major concerns. The users feel that the website providers are being “sneaky” in gathering the data behind the scenes without informing them of what is going on. For the companies involved, this suggestion that they are involved in such practices of surveillance and unauthorized purposes can create a serious reputation issue and discourage web users from visiting their sites. For future solutions to these concerns regarding marketing and privacy issues, several technical strategies have been developed to help prevent or guard against not knowing or identifying websites and users called data magnets. They include cookies, web beacons (or web bugs, which are inserted in the software code of websites and commercial emails to track visits and movements and build profiles), data aggregation (collection of personal email addresses and transmission of third party sales or marketing), personalization and software downloads and data sharing between community sites. All these strategies have given rise to the protection of privacy issues for the future of e-commerce. We must determine at what level or beyond to proceed on this course for the protection of consumer privacy in our new world of online technology. As online users, we need to look for the “privacy policy” of the online services. Most Internet Service Providers (ISP) has adopted privacy policies that they post on their web sites and other user documentation. When you surf the web, look for the privacy policies posted on the web sites you visit. Also, look for the privacy “seal” such as TRUSTe or BBBOnline. If you are not satisfied with the policy, or if there is no policy or seal logo posted, you should avoid using the site. Consumers have several choices that are available to them in helping to protect their own privacy when using or conducting on-line activity. They can choose to opt-out of subscriber or data gathering information segments while on-line. Many websites will offer domain registration or semi-private activities or services that you can click on to accept or decline giving any additional information or continuing to proceeds through the offered services during a transaction or use of the website. The customer or consumer can choose to leave or back out of the site. The future is uncertain as to the laws and governmental legislation concerning the privacy and the Internet. There is great debate in several states now concerning the issues of privacy on the World Wide Web. Some states have already adopted laws and are trying to pass legislation to adapt to the new technology of the Internet and web users. Such states include Utah, where they have passed laws concerning digital signature laws. This law created opportunities for banks and other institutions to act as the repositories of digital signatures allowing individuals and businesses to send and receive confidential information over the web, as well as conduct binding contractual business transactions. 2. Security The growth of e-commerce has creat