A set of suggested rules, if followed by all those concerned, might increase Internet privacy.
The rules, authored, among others, by the US Postal Service, DoubleClick and Microsoft, suggest that companies tell Web users what kind of information is being collected on their web sites, and how that information is being used. The privacy guidelines also suggest that companies refrain from releasing personal data to third parties without prior approval by the users. And the rules address the use of Web bugs.
Compliance is entirely voluntary, however, so the guidelines are really nothing more than an optional template. Companies that want to earn a stamp of approval from respected compliance groups, however, have an incentive to implement the suggested policy.
Reuters coverage is here.