The Los Angeles Times

It is an interesting story because it illustrates the importance of having clear and understandable privacy policies that customers can understand. It is also an interesting story because it (once again) demonstrates the attention that the media place on privacy matters and the potentially explosive reaction that customers can have if they feel their privacy isn’t being respected.

The important thing is to develop a culture of privacy within the workplace.  Fostering a workplace culture where privacy is valued and respected contributes to good employee morale and mutual trust.  It also helps employees to identify privacy issues before they become privacy complaints (which can result in costly grievances, lawsuits or settlements).  After all, it’s employees that are on the front line with customers and how employees respond to privacy related questions or concerns can make a big difference. 

When I conduct privacy training sessions for clients, I always remind employees that while privacy compliance is the law, it’s also important because good privacy practices can improve customer relations, increase efficiencies and mitigate time-consuming and costly privacy complaints.  I also try to make privacy compliance fun!  No, this is not a misprint…I said “fun”.  Privacy Forum members had some great suggestions on how to make privacy compliance fun and, in doing so, help to get staff “buy-in” on privacy compliance. 

Please post a Comment below on ways that you or your organization tries to get staff “buy-in” on privacy.

Online shopping a risky transaction: Protect yourself from identity thieves

My November 5, 2008 column in the Winnipeg Free Press provides some tips on how to be a savvy online shopper and the benefits to online retailers of  having sercure websites and comprehensive online privacy policies.

New push to educate on online privacy: Youth can get info on important website

My July 2, 2008 column in the Winnipeg Free Press announces the Privacy Commission of Canada’s new youth privacy site, My Privacy. This is a great site for both parents and their children to view, to help youthful Internet users to be aware of the dangers of ignoring privacy settings as they’re filling out personal information on sites like Facebook and MySpace.