Patron Privacy Protection Policies (say that five times fast)

Privacy legislation is creating a buzz in Washington. While no one anticipates a privacy bill being passed this close to the presidential election, momentum is building for a comprehensive privacy policy that could be pushed in Congress as early as 2009. Several companies, including the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), Google, and Microsoft, are advocating for comprehensive privacy legislation to establish the rules business handling personal information.

Though a privacy policy has been a long standing interest to CDT, several privacy concerns have been raised recently to increase awareness on the subject. Advertising strategies and deals that companies are employing are raising concerns, including Google’s purchase of DoubleClick the online advertising network. Also, NebuAd has been drawing attention for its tracking of broadband users and supplying of more targeted advertisements. The National Security Agency’s surveillance program is raising privacy issues as well. Another issue is maintaining privacy with electronic health information records. All of these privacy areas are disconcerting and would be considered with comprehensive privacy legislation.

A hearing regarding NebuAd’s business policies was held. Their targeted ad service for broadband users could be opted out of, but only if a user did that. Other advertising issues were debated beyond NebuAd’s techniques regarding whether or not these other methods invaded privacy. Chavez from Google stated that Google wants legislation that will create strong penalties for companies that violate users’ privacy.

Protecting patrons’ privacy is such an important aspect of librarianship. Any privacy legislation that might be passed would be extremely necessary for librarians to study and understand. Librarians can be great advocates for privacy protection: within their library, on the state level, and even on the national level. If a privacy bill is being considered, I would like to see librarians lobbying for wording that protects people the most and on the widest scale.

The National Security Agency’s surveillance program may have direct affect on libraries. If a suspected terrorist is using library computers to communicate with others, or someone is using the library computers to contact a suspected terrorist, librarians may be required to turn over computer logs and other information. However, the extension to the program passed, giving the courts a greater ability to oversee the program.

Patron privacy should be given the highest consideration in the library. As librarians, we should seek to provide equal, confidential access to our patrons. Comprehensive privacy legislation may help us to do that. It is certainly something worth keeping an eye on.

Gross, Grant. “Momentum Building for US Privacy Policy.” PCWorld.com. (22 July 2008). 22 July 2008. <http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/148771/momentum_building_for_us_privacy_policy.html >