Attorney General supports Internet help

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule that would restrict the collection of information on children who use the Internet.

"The protections contained in the proposed rule will help protect the privacy of our children from those who might use person identifying information to harm them," Del Papa said.

According to Forrester Research Inc., the number of household with Internet access will nearly double by 2003. The total number of web users globally is projected to grow from 16.1 million in 1995 to 500 million by 2003.

As the Internet market continues to grow, online commerce is also rapidly expanding and with that, online collection of consumers' person identifying information.

Widespread collection of this information in turn increases the risk that personal data will be used in identity theft crimes, and crimes against children.

Concerns with the gathering of personal information from children have been greatly heightened, Del Papa said.

During a recent workshop, a survey said that 97 percent of parents whose children use the Internet believe that websites should not sell or rent personal information relating to children.

The survey also found that 72 percent of parents object to websites that request a child's name and address when the child registers at the site, even if such information is used only by the website itself.

archive