World Wide Web Consortium Announces First Demonstration of Web Privacy Framework
June 21 Event to "Test Drive" Implementations of Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P), a Framework for Informed Online Interactions
http://www.w3.org/ -- 6 April 2000 -- With the Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) Specification in last call, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) announced today it is hosting an interoperability session in New York City on June 21, to "test drive" P3P and to demonstrate its potential uses and capabilities to a broad audience of software and hardware developers, and Web site operators. The "interop" session is set to start on June 21, 10 a.m., in the auditorium of the AT&T Building, 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY.
The W3C is encouraging all interested developers and Web site operators to participate in the June 21 session. To facilitate participation, the W3C is hosting informational teleconferences for all interested parties later in the month of April, to outline the session format and requirements. To date, organizations such as IBM, AT&T, and others have committed to participate.
"We are excited and pleased that the P3P work has reached the stage where it can 'come to life,' and we can see how applications of it can enable individuals to manage their online information," said Dr. Lorrie Cranor, AT&T Labs-Research and Chair of the P3P Specification Working Group.
"As a privacy advocate, it is important to me that privacy considerations be reflected in the design of the Web's infrastructure and products, and P3P is an important aspect of that," stated Deirdre Mulligan, Staff Counsel, Center for Democracy and Technology and Co-Chair of the P3P Policy and Outreach Working Group. Updates on the teleconferences and event details, including press access, will be available from the W3C P3P home page, at http://www.w3.org/P3P/
The Importance of P3P
P3P's design allows Web sites to deliver automated privacy statements, and makes it possible for users' browsers to review the statements. Users may then make informed decisions on how and when their information may be used. P3P privacy statements are expressed in the W3C's widely deployed Extensible Markup Language (XML). P3P technology was created through a consensus process with representatives from more than a dozen W3C Member organizations, including CDT, Citigroup, Crystaliz, Geotrust, IBM, Microsoft, NCR, NEC, Nokia, Phone.com, PrivacyBank, as well as invited privacy experts from around the world, including Ann Cavoukian, Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner.
About the World Wide Web Consortium [W3C]
The W3C was created to lead the Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. It is an international industry consortium jointly run by the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science (MIT LCS) in the USA, the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA) in France and Keio University in Japan. Services provided by the Consortium include: a repository of information about the World Wide Web for developers and users, reference code implementations to embody and promote standards, and various prototype and sample applications to demonstrate use of new technology. To date, 400 organizations are Members of the Consortium. For more information see http://www.w3.org/
- Contact --
- Janet Daly, <janet@w3.org>, +1.617.253.5884
