ABA Family Legal Guide

Computer Law

Online Purchases

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

How do I protect my privacy?

A first step is to read the privacy statements, agreements, and disclosures of Internet service providers. They can often be long, tedious, and written by people (usually lawyers) who apparently were never admonished for run-on sentences. But it is critically important for consumers to read through the privacy terms of Internet service providers. In these sometimes cumbersome, dry agreements lies the critical information regarding what the company plans to do with the information you provide. Look for clauses alerting you to the fact that the site will share your information with related companies. Beware of any provisions that say that the site will forward, or sell, your e-mail address and other personal information to marketing companies--or you may receive unsolicited e-mails, mail, and phone calls. If you don't like what you see there, you can try to find a company whose policies are more to your liking.