Some Sanity Amidst Facebook's Beacon Debacle: TRUSTe

In prior posts, I discussed Facebook's bumbling of its Beacon program. I was pleased to read this in the TRUSTe blog:

TRUSTe has been working closely with Facebook during the Beacon launch, and the subsequent change to opt-in user control. In addition to oversight regarding updates to the Facebook privacy statement, we announced today model privacy statement language for Beacon partners which plainly explains to consumers what information is collected, and how to exercise their options for control. Websites that are Beacon partners are also responsible for disclosing when and how their customer data might be used.

See the above blog entry for details. Who is TRUSTe? TRUSTe describes itself as:

"... an independent, nonprofit enabling trust based on privacy for personal information on the internet. We certify and monitor web site privacy and email policies, monitor practices, and resolve thousands of consumer privacy problems every year."

TRUSTe works to promote both consumer privacy and business growth. I like that. TRUSTe has about 2,500 seal-holders in 56 countries; companies that meet TRUSTe's strict guidelines for maintaining consumers' data privacy, e-mail opt-in methods, and disclosure copy for online shopping.

I hope that the executives at Facebook listen to and use the advice TRUSTe is offering.