As the October 23 deadline for the adoption of the European Union directive on privacy approaches, President Clinton’s senior policy adviser on internet issues, Ira Magaziner, hopes that the EU and US will meet an accord and avoid trade restrictions, while stressing what he sees as the importance of letting the market shape legislation. Speaking in London, Magaziner, said We’re hoping to come to some agreement where the EU will recognize our approach, – which the EU may construe as a very-US compromise. The US answer is to promote the use of a seal of approval on web sites, which will give consumers some guarantee that information gathered about them is not used against their wishes. Organizations such as Truste and the Better Business Bureau are promoting such techniques. Of course, the debates over internet regulation – or not – range far beyond privacy. The OECD conference will cover the initial stages of taxation principles and touch on the legal recognition of digital signatures and contracts. The OECD’s published privacy principles are expected to form the basis for the US privacy policy.
