Subj: Online Privacy: Perspectives of Privacy Right
From: Paul Sholtz, Chief Technology Officer, PrivacyRight Inc., c/o Amy Hanson, 703-
 299-9470
To: Internet Caucus Advisory Committee

HOW DO US PRIVACY PROTECTIONS (IF ANY) COMPARE TO PRIVACY 
PROTECTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES?

In general, the EU has far more comprehensive data protection laws than the US. Most 
EU regulations are modeled on the Code of Fair Information Practices, which was in 
fact conceived of, although never adopted, in the US. The EU Directive is unique in that 
it restricts trade with countries like the US that do not diligently protect privacy. In 1999, 
this provision nearly led to the first trans-Atlantic Internet trade war. Both sides have 
tentatively agreed to a compromise solution, allowing US companies to continue 
operating in "safe-harbor" with the EU, while they adopt more comprehensive data 
protection policies.