Take action to save privacy

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How you can join the fight for privacy rights

Tell Washington you want your privacy

Big companies spend millions to lobby against privacy laws that would give you real, legally guaranteed rights. Under the name of ``self-regulation'' the Clinton and Bush administrations, the FTC, and the Congress have let most companies get away with doing almost anything they want with your personal information. For years privacy advocates have pointed to the foolishness and failure of self-regulation. Americans need real privacy rights: companies should not be able to use your personal data without asking you; they should be required to show you the information they have about you if you want, and they should be required to keep it secure. If they don't do these things, you should be able to sue them for a nominated amount (called ``statutory damages'' in legal jargon), the way you can sue telemarketers for $500 if they call you illegally.

It's time to tell Washington you want your privacy. Here are some ways you can do that, by phone, email, mail or fax.

If you know how to contact your own representative or have time to look up their details online, see our suggestions below.

If you prefer to phone and it's during working hours in Washington, pick one or more of the following people.

President George W. Bush: 202 456-1414
House Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection, Chairman W. J. (Billy) Tauzin 202-225-4031

Begin by saying "Could you please pass on a message to [whoever you called] about an issue that's important to me?" After you get a yes, give a simple and brief message such as "This country needs privacy protected by law, not self-regulation. [Whoever you called] should support privacy instead of opposing it." (Or whatever you want to say.)

If you prefer to send a letter, here are some samples that you can print, fold, add a stamp and mail. If you wish, edit the text or add your own message by hand after printing. Just click on the name to get a draft letter.

President George W. Bush (Fax: 202-456-2461)
House Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection Chairman Billy Tauzin (fax 202-225-0563)

Probably the best way to make your voice heard is through your own Representative in Congress. If you don't know contact details for this person, just enter your zip code into an online form. Then tell your your representatives by phone, fax, email or mail that you want your privacy protected. You could ask your representative to:

Support Senator Hollings's Consumer Privacy Protection Act.
Support the bipartisan work of Senator Richard Shelby (R., Ala.) and Representative Edward Markey (D., Mass.) for privacy protections in legislation.
Propose comprehensive privacy legislation along the lines as the federal privacy law passed in Canada or proposed by the Cellucci-Swift Administration of Massachusetts.
Or just tell them what you feel is needed from lawmakers to protect privacy.

Here's a sample letter suitable for your representative (or any member of Congress). For the one-page tri-fold versions described above, click on one of these addressees: [Rep. Tauzin]

I am deeply concerned about the way that the privacy of Americans is being destroyed by companies using personal data unfairly. The failed policy of relying on industry self-regulation is to blame for this. Please hold hearings examining this failure, and investigating the collection and use of personal information by marketers. Please support laws that would require all companies, not just Credit Reporting Agencies, to handle personal information fairly. Please support Sen. Hollings's Consumer Privacy Protection Act or the bipartisan work of Sen. Richard Shelby and Rep. Edward Markey to protect privacy.

Here's a sample letter suitable for President George W. Bush, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500 [One-page tri-fold version]

As you know, the privacy of Americans is being destroyed by companies using personal data unfairly. Please support legislation that would require companies to handle all personal information fairly, including specific consent before information is collected, disclosed, or used for new purposes.

Sadly, your government is not going to give you the privacy rights you need unless people demand them.

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