Net privacy goes mainstream

With more people than ever using the Internet for daily tasks such as shopping and banking, the message at this year's Computers, Freedom, and Privacy conference has a familiar Orwellian ring: Civil rights should be strengthened because digital technology sharpens that "big eye in the sky." With the Big Brother threat looming, Hong Kong's privacy chief and certain U.S. lawmakers have expressed their concern and are drafting stricter legislation to deal with online privacy in the digital domain.

Hong Kong privacy chief blasts U.S. policy Q&A The paradox that part of China is at the forefront of protecting personal data is not lost on Hong Kong's chief privacy watchdog. Lawmaker prepares data privacy bill update Rep. Edward Markey says he will soon introduce legislation to give Web surfers broad rights to limit collection and use of their personal data over the Internet. Conference monitors privacy concerns With mom and pop going online to shop, bank, and personalize Web pages, the conversation at CFP '99 is going mainstream.