The Better Business Bureau Launches BBBOnLine Safe Shopping Site During National Consumer Protection Week
For information, contact:
Holly Cherico
VP, Communications
Council of Better Business Bureaus
Phone: 703.247.9311
Email: hcherico@cbbb.bbb.org
Brendon Shank
Phone: 202 973 3627
E-mail: bshank@porternovelli.com
Site is the Newest Tool from BBBOnLine to Assist Consumers and Businesses in Boosting Online Privacy Protection
ARLINGTON, VA - February 4, 2002 - Today`s launch of the BBBOnLine Safe Shopping Site comes during National Consumer Protection Week, Feb. 3-9. Each year, Better Business Bureaus (BBBs) join with other organizations, advocacy groups and agencies that serve consumers to help heighten public awareness to important issues. The theme of this year`s event is "Consumer Confidential: The Privacy Story."
"Helping online consumers protect their personally identifiable information and convincing businesses to commit to the fair treatment and use of such information is an important hallmark of BBBOnLine. The new BBBOnLine Safe Shopping Site will further enhance our efforts in this arena," said Charlie Underhill, COO of BBBOnLine.
In line with the goals of National Consumer Protection Week, the new Site provides information for consumers to learn about how to protect their privacy online. It also provides the unique, convenient ability to search or browse online among the thousands of companies that have met BBB standards for e-commerce, which include privacy.
Consumers are not the BBB`s only focal point. "The BBB system will also leverage National Consumer Protection Week to encourage the business community to step up to the plate and meet consumer expectations regarding online privacy," said Ken Hunter, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) and BBBOnLine.
"A Greenfield Online survey shows that over 75 percent of consumers are concerned about the use of their personally identifiable information online. Throughout the week, the Better Business Bureau system will reach out to businesses and organizations with web sites to advise them of the tools available to help enhance consumer confidence, satisfaction, and security online," Hunter said.
Specific outreach efforts include a revamped BBBOnLine web site featuring a special "Business" page where businesses can learn more about and sign up for BBB programs that support ethical e-commerce. To encourage more Privacy program participants, in particular, BBBOnLine is waiving the customary $75 application fee for any business that applies for the Privacy seal during the week of Feb. 3-9.
BBB programs and tools to assist consumers and businesses in boosting the satisfaction, security and privacy of shopping online include:
BBBOnLine Privacy program: Consumers can rest assured that web sites featuring the BBBOnLine Privacy seal are responsibly handling and maintaining any of their personal information gathered on the site. Plus, the BBBOnLine Privacy seal gives businesses a simple and effective way of demonstrating their commitment to respecting the privacy preferences of consumers.
BBBOnLine Reliability program: Just as the Better Business Bureau logo has been a trademark of reliable brick and mortar businesses for decades, the BBBOnLine Reliability seal informs consumers that a participating web site engages in ethical business practices, including the posting of and adherence to a privacy policy based on fair information principles.
CARU Safe Harbor Program: Operated by the CBBB on behalf of the advertising industry, the Children`s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) offers a Safe Harbor Program to aid businesses in protecting the privacy of children online, and meeting the requirements of CARU Self-Regulatory Guidelines for Children`s Advertisers and the Children`s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
The BBB Code of Online Business Practices: The Code offers small and large businesses a sensible roadmap for conducting business online by outlining principles to help inspire the trust of customers and support the growth of a safe, secure online marketplace. Included in the Code are guidelines for fair information practices and adequate security to assist businesses in treating personal information in the most ethical manner.
BBBOnLine web site: In addition to the new Safe Shopping section, consumers and businesses will find helpful information on a range of online shopping and security topics, including answer to "frequently asked questions"; a child privacy section to help ensure a safe experience for web surfers under 13; and helpful hyperlinks to other BBB web sites and programs.
Currently, almost 11,000 web sites display one or both of the BBBOnLine Privacy and Reliability seals. Seal holders include Fortune 100 companies, such as Hewlett-Packard, Intel and Procter & Gamble, along with thousands of small and local businesses across the country. Most recently, Senator John Kerry`s campaign web site, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Wisconsin, CIANT Corporation, and Compaq have joined the circle of BBBOnLine Privacy seal holders.
H.E. (Zeke) Swift, Global Privacy Director for Procter & Gamble, encouraged businesses to take advantage of this opportunity: "Privacy is an important element of building relationships with your customers. Participating in the BBBOnLine Privacy seal program has helped P&G to put in place privacy practices that meet or exceed consumer expectations. And displaying the BBBOnLine seal assures consumers with just one glance that we have done so."
About National Consumer Protection Week
National Consumer Protection Week has been designated February 3 - 9, 2002. This year`s theme focuses on helping consumers take precautions against the misuse of their personal information. In addition to the Better Business Bureau system, organizers of NCPW 2002 include the Federal Trade Commission, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, the U.S. Postal Service, the National Association of Attorneys General, the Federal Consumer Information Center, the National Consumers League, the American Association of Retired persons, and the Consumer Federation of America. Each organization is conducting outreach to encourage consumers to learn more about privacy issues and how they affect their lives and the decisions they may make in the marketplace. Additional information about NCPW, this year`s theme and organizers, available resources and education materials are available on the web site.
About BBBOnLine
BBBOnLine brings the Better Business Bureau system`s 90 years of experience in consumer protection, dispute resolution and business self-regulation to e-commerce. Guided by its mission to promote consumer trust on the Internet, and working in concert with the 142 local BBBs in the United States and Canada, BBBOnLine encourages sound and ethical online business practices through its Privacy program, Reliability program and the BBB Code of Online Business Practices.
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