Consumer Online Privacy Quiz

1. Companies are required by law to display a privacy policy on their website.

True

False

Because the Internet is borderless and a Web sites visitors can come from any of the fifty states, all commercial Web sites need to comply with California Business and Professions Code requiring commercial Web sites to have and conspicuously display a privacy policy on their website. It’s the law.

Explanation

Because the Internet is borderless and a Web sites visitors can come from any of the fifty states, all commercial Web sites need to comply with California Business and Professions Code requiring commercial Web sites to have and conspicuously display a privacy policy on their website. It’s the law.

2. Internet "cookies" are:

The same as browser bookmarks

Delicious

Text packets stored on your computer by Web sites

Illegal to use

On the Internet “cookies” are small packets of text stored on your computer by websites you visit and online applications you use, recording your online preferences and activities. This information allows for a more personalized web browsing experience, such as when a YouTube video remembers your preferred volume setting for future viewings.

Explanation

On the Internet “cookies” are small packets of text stored on your computer by websites you visit and online applications you use, recording your online preferences and activities. This information allows for a more personalized web browsing experience, such as when a YouTube video remembers your preferred volume setting for future viewings.

3. If I give a company my email address and they contact me via email, the email must contain:

A subject line that accurately reflects the content of the message.

A valid physical postal address for the company

A clear and conspicuous way to opt out of future emails.

All of the above.

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 requires all of the above and more when it comes to regulating commercial email messages. Moreover, the law doesn’t just apply to bulk email as it includes any commercial message where a commercial product or service is promoted.

Explanation

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 requires all of the above and more when it comes to regulating commercial email messages. Moreover, the law doesn’t just apply to bulk email as it includes any commercial message where a commercial product or service is promoted.

4. The personal information of adults and children receive identical protections on the Internet.

True

False

The personal information of children under the age of 13 is subject to more stringent privacy protections under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998. COPPA requires websites, for example, to obtain verifiable parental consent before they collect the personal information of minors under 13 and further requires websites to provide parents with access to PII that they have collected from their children.

Explanation

The personal information of children under the age of 13 is subject to more stringent privacy protections under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998. COPPA requires websites, for example, to obtain verifiable parental consent before they collect the personal information of minors under 13 and further requires websites to provide parents with access to PII that they have collected from their children.

5. If a company has a privacy policy on its website it cannot share my personal information with advertisers.

True

False

A privacy policy outlines a company’s uses of your personal information, which may, or may not include sharing your personal information with third parties such as advertisers. It is up to you as the consumer to read a company’s privacy policy and make informed decisions regarding your use of their website.

Explanation

A privacy policy outlines a company’s uses of your personal information, which may, or may not include sharing your personal information with third parties such as advertisers. It is up to you as the consumer to read a company’s privacy policy and make informed decisions regarding your use of their website.

6. If I select "clear cookies" or "empty cache" in my browser then advertisers cannot track me.

True

False

It depends

While clearing cookies from your browser will generally clear HTML cookies, there is a second type of cookie called flash cookies (based on Adobe’s flash technology) that require special browser add-ons to manage or must be managed via Adobe’s website directly. Simply “clearing cookies” on your browser typically won’t erase these flash cookies, some of which can automatically regenerate HTML cookies that you previously cleared.

Explanation

While clearing cookies from your browser will generally clear HTML cookies, there is a second type of cookie called flash cookies (based on Adobe’s flash technology) that require special browser add-ons to manage or must be managed via Adobe’s website directly. Simply “clearing cookies” on your browser typically won’t erase these flash cookies, some of which can automatically regenerate HTML cookies that you previously cleared.

7. Which federal organization most actively enforces privacy laws that protect consumers?

The Department of Justice

The Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FTC consistently defends consumer privacy rights and works to uphold and enforce important privacy laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.

Explanation

The FTC consistently defends consumer privacy rights and works to uphold and enforce important privacy laws such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.