NCR issues warnings on data protection

Companies are being warned to put consumer interests first when drawing up online data protection policies - or risk losing business.

The warning comes from Bob Henderson, VP, NCR Privacy Centre, who told Silicon.com the development of technology has increased social awareness and sensitivity about consumer rights. "Now it is a social issue as much as a legal issue," he claimed.

According to an NCR survey released this week, over 50 per cent of UK consumers would offer companies personal information as long as certain privacy guarantees were in place.

Henderson is advising companies to follow four basic principles: post a statement of purpose on the Web explaining why the data is being collected; give consumers the choice to opt out; make sure the data is collected in a secure environment; and give consumers access to their data so they can see how it is being used.

"A number of bodies are now emerging to try and regulate data collection on the Web," he said. "In the US there are private companies like Truste and BBB which audit sites, but Europeans would rather see regulation from their governments."