UK: Direct Marketing Authority

A new independent body has been formed to provide a single voice for consumer interests in the UK. The Direct Marketing Authority will act as an umbrella for the current Authority of the DMA, the Mailing Preference Service, the Fax Preference Service, the Direct Mail Accreditation and Recognition Centre and subject to further consultation, the Telephone Preference Service. Consumers can now contact the DMA on +(44) (0) 345 034 599 with enquiries or problems. In July the DMA will be publishing a new consolidated DM code of practice; for further details contact Jo Whyte at the DMA: +(44) (0) 171 321 2525, fax: +(44) (0) 171 321 0191, e-mail: [email protected]

The proposed Open Profiling Standard would give individuals control over their own personal profiles and the ability to manage which personal information gets disclosed or withheld from a particular Web site. Web sites frequently ask visitors to register online and provide basic information about themselves before access is granted to their site; thus individuals may find themselves giving out the same, often highly detailed, personal information to hundreds of Web sites. With OPS and Personal Profiles, users can enter personal information into a file that lives on their hard disk drives. Users decide which Internet sites should have access to the information.