Statement of Commissioner Sheila Anthony
on the Commission’s Privacy Agenda

October 4, 2001

I support the Chairman’s plans to expand the Commission’s privacy agenda in the commercial arena, but I do not believe that he has made the case for the Commission to depart from its earlier legislative recommendation. Although some companies have made a good faith effort, the private sector, as a whole, continues to fail to effectively self regulate. Absent federal legislation that sets standards to be followed by everyone, it is unlikely that consumers’ privacy can be adequately protected from identity theft, commercial harassment, and hucksterism.