Data Privacy Day 2010

Today is Data Privacy Day 2010, an international celebration of information privacy and data protection promoted in the U.S., Canada and the 27 countries of the European Union. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to support education and transparency around data privacy. The educational initiative has focused on heightening awareness about the importance of protecting the privacy of consumers’ information online.

AOL has been an active participant in multiple industry initiatives. We continue to support the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI)  by serving millions of informative banner ads to educate consumers about online advertising.   Yesterday, a coalition of associations -- to which AOL belongs -- comprised of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's), Association of National Advertisers (ANA), Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), and the Council for Better Business Bureaus (BBB) ("Coalition") that announced the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising in July 2009 announced the selection of the icon that will indicate adherence to the Principles (read the press release).  AOL supported the Future of Privacy Forum's research on consumer awareness that tested icons and attendant phrases.

AOL provides more information on behavioral advertising on our consumer education page.  For more information on Data Privacy Day go to: http://dataprivacyday2010.org/