It is rarely difficult to find information on any given topic on the Web, but it may be difficult to find information that is reliable. Indeed, Consumers International took to task a number of web sites that purport to provide consumers with reliable information on a range of topics.
Here is a small sample of the predictable flaws identified by the study.
1. Failure to disclose qualifications: "At least 50 percent of sites giving advice on medical and financial matters failed to provide full information about the authority and credentials of the people behind that advice."
2. Unclear selection criteria/absence of notice of corporate influence: "60 percent of sites provided no information that indicated whether or not their content was influenced by commercial interests (e.g. partners, sponsors or advertisers)."
3. Missing privacy policy: "39 percent of sites that collected personal information did not have a privacy policy"
For the full outline, check out the organization's press release here.
Reuters report, which includes a summary of a study by Consumer WebWatch, is here.