Technology Think Tank Launches ‘Take Back Your Privacy’ Campaign

The Center for Democracy & Technology this week launched a “Take Back Your Privacy” campaign to support the creation of more user-friendly privacy tools and push for the passage of a federal consumer privacy law.

“It’s time for privacy law and online practices to catch up with the seismic shifts in technology,” CDT President and CEO Leslie Harris said in a statement Thursday. “We know that Americans want better privacy protections. Take Back Your Privacy will help them make sure that their voices are heard.”

CDT wants a national law that would establish “clear rights for consumers and clear rules for companies that collect personal information.” The organization said the campaign will provide Internet users with tools to contact relevant government and industry officials and spread the privacy message to their friends. “The Web site will become an interactive hub for the campaign, kept fresh with information about the latest developments in privacy controls and how Congress is reacting to the campaign’s message,” said CDT.

CDT also plans to launch a “Privacy Labs” sometime in the first quarter of 2010. The site will provide a place for people to exchange ideas on new privacy tools.