Protecting personal privacy on the Internet

The rapid advance of technology has permitted the creation of vast amounts of information, both on and off the Internet. The public is only just beginning to realize how this information, especially personal information, may be used in ways that may not be acceptable. Laws across different countries are often conflicting, making it difficult to control how personal information is being used and how individual privacy is being violated. The solution to this problem lies somewhere between government, industry, and the individual. This paper discusses the current state of personal privacy in each of these three areas.