Slashdot Mirror
North American Corporate Privacy Comparison
Scooter[AMMO] writes "The Toronto Star has published an article on a study comparing the way companies protect the privacy of their customers, which is surely a topic of interest to most /.'ers. Choice quote: 'The study, the first to compare the corporate privacy practices of comparable Canadian and U.S. firms, found that Canadian businesses see their privacy practices as an opportunity to improve relations with customers, while their U.S. counterparts viewed privacy measures more as a way of complying with legislation and avoiding civil lawsuits.'"
Most American companies are too thick to treat the consumer with respect as a route to profit, rather than squeeze them for all they have.
It's an attitude thing, OK maybe not geo-specific, but it's prevailant in a profit driven world.
In the United States, "It's all about complying with the law, which may or may not have any bearing to people," said Ponemon. "In Canada, I got the sense that they thought it was just the right thing to do."
Isn't that exactly why we have laws in the first place, to set up penalties for not doing the 'right thing?'
The privacy issue of customers and employees alike takes an interesting spin when you factor in outsourcing. Suddenly, all of your personal data is in someone's database overseas. That's ok, until there's a political problem. When you have a government who doesn't give a rat's butt about privacy laws in other countries, and someone decides to sell your data, you're screwed.
Be excellent to each other. And... PARTY ON, DUDES!
Indeed, 61 per cent of surveyed Canadian companies linked "good privacy practices" to customer trust and brand loyalty, compared to only 17 per cent of U.S. companies.
Maybe it's different in Canada, but there's a reason only 17% of US companies think that - because people around here just don't care! Sure, we complain about spam and junk mail, but how many people do you know (that don't read Slashdot!) actually care about their privacy at all? I'd say less than 10%. Look at how people react to invasions of privacy by the government ("It's for our protection!") and by companies ("Hey, if I use this card who cares if they track my purchases, I saved $2!"). They just don't give a damn!
Is it possible that Canadian citizens care more about privacy, making it make more sense for Canadian corporations to value privacy more?
Another chance to play pile on with US corporations and US culture. I sure hope slashdot doesn't let me down.
Any positive action the corporations might do (like the Canadian companies do) is discouraged because the attorneys will pick them apart and attack them in punishment for owning up to or admitting wrongdoing, or even acting to prevent it. "Cover up and shred and deny" becomes the game where there are sharks who will rip you apart for even a drop of blood.
Those who oppose abuses by rich corporations would do well to remember that the lawyers themselves represent large, rich law firms that are corporations as well.
When your medical/financial records are sent to god knows where for whatever reason, your: Name, DOB, SSN, and address are sent along with it. Everything a crook/terrorist needs to steal your identity and cause havoc.
There was this study that most identity thefts are an inside job. Mostly from financial and medical firms. Identity Theft
I'm not sure that European companies are any more driven by customer concern than American companies, but the laws with which they must comply have been writing with the consumer in mind much more than the hodgepodge of American privacy laws. The European concept is more akin to a property right that can be non-transferrably licensed whereas the US view is that the corporation has a property right in whatever information they obtain and can do with it what they will.
There was Cowboy Neal at the wheel of a bus to never-ever land.
This is a classic example of where laws regarding corporations are only abided by because breaking them is illegal, not because they feel compelled to be honest like most hard working people.
Canada has laws against using aluminum to distribute consumable products like FOOD. Aluminum pans are not used in Canda. This is all due to research done years ago linking the build up of aluminum in the human brain to neurological problems like Alzheimers.
But then again, Canadians benefit from socialized medecine. It just doesnt make sense for their government to allow companies to distribute aluminum with food because they will only have to pay for the medical bills and medications of those adversly affected in the long run. Or is it because they are nice?
No laws like that here. Hell you buy enough different kinds of food that comes in aluminum containers to last you a lifetime if thats all you ate. You'd probably be a blithering idiot by the time you were 45, but who cares? Just get someone to stand in line for you at the medicare office, and take up a part time job at McDonalds to pay for the rest of the expenses.
Something is really really wrong with this picture. In a day and age where corporate rule and well being in "the greatest country in the world" is held is such high regard over the well being of the general populace, its a small wonder that nothing short of apathy sweeps the minds of those who stumble upon someone so informed and opinionated.
"I cant change this by myself and all I want to do is make a good life for my family and live another day.." is by and large the mantra of working heads of households. But this is under the guise that tomorrow there will be the right to do what you can for your families. Slowly but surely everything from what you eat and how you eat it to where you live and what you see on the internet is under less and less of your own control.
Welcome to America, take a number and sit the fuck down.
You are about to give someone a piece of your mind, something which you can ill afford...
I find this very strange coming out of an essentially socialist country. I know I am very concerned about privacy and would use that as a deciding factor when doing business. But then most Libertarians are concerned about freedom and privacy.
My boy, my boy!
I do not believe the average American consumer believes any company is going to "do the right thing" without some sort of legal force behind it. And even then, it will be a question of risk vs. benefit.
So the Canadian company that believes having some extensive privacy statement and following it closely will net them better customer relations is deluding themselves. Similarly, an American company that does not have as extensive a committment to privacy - and perhaps actually does not provide as much "real privacy" to customers is likely operating in an environment where spending more dollars on "improving privacy" is a waste of time and money. In either case, the majority is likely to assume whatever they say, they are lying. What ever they claim to be doing, they are doing whatever they need to do. Period.
Now, it would be nice if there was some organization that actually investigated privacy practices and reported on them. Unfortunately, what we have is membership-based organizations where you pay a fee and get to put a logo on your web page. Does this come with any follow through, education, training or publicity? No. You have a logo on your web page. This pretty much tells the consumer nothing but it does look nice.
Canada is just in its infancy concerning privacy laws. At one point I'm sure US companies thought it was just the right thing to do, but all it takes is one or two companies to sell out their customers' privacy and then the laws are needed. Then when there's more abuse, even more laws and stiffer penalties come in to the point that companies no longer care about the right thing to do, but they are concerned about protecting their own asses 'cuz they don't want to get sued or fined again.
;)
Then come the opportunistic lawyers that look for ways in which companies are violating the law so they can trump up some frivolous privacy lawsuit and rake in the dough.
Yes Canada, enjoy it while you can. Soon you will grow up, just like your Brother, the US.
infested with jello like fishes no melotron wishes
Three whole times. Out of all the American companies in existence. Wow, thats a meaningful statistic.
Three times American companies have done things that have been duplicitous and harmful to my business. Compared to zero times that I've had a European company stab me or business partners in the back. That's pretty meaningful to me.
Don't blame the market; blame the idiot shareholders, who actively work against corporate boards looking long-term. American investors have a very short-term attitude towards profits, and react very negatively towards companies that are willing to sacrifice tomorrow's profits for even greater profits throughout all of next year.
--
I Hit the Karma Cap, and All I Got Was This Lousy
I don't think it is so much anybody is trying to distance themselves (well, maybe some. Every country has some nutcases). Canadians really are much closer to Europe in attitudes and culture than the USA ... I'm not sure why; probably history as a British/French colony. If it wasn't for geography, I have no doubt Canada would be part of the European Union. It is kind of strange that two countries that trade so heavily, and in most ways are so much alike -- that is the USA and Canada -- tend to have such different attitudes on such a wide number of issues.
To be fair though, perhaps the Bush administration, which I'm not entirely convinced is really all that representative of Americans, has made the differences seem much bigger over the last few years than they really are. I doubt such a nuiance of corporate culture would even have been noticed 5 years ago. (I'm sure I'm not giving away any secrets if I say Canadians felt much closer to the USA under the Clinton administration. Hell, Clinton would probably have a better than average chance of winning in our general election up here. We like cute interns too, so the Monika-thing wouldn't get much more than giggle up here.)
Of course they care about privacy. They just care about buying power a great deal more.
1) Customers want low prices from the companies with whom they do business. They vote with their feet and dollars by going to the companies who have the lowest prices--subsidized by the sale of customers' private information.
2) Customers want high wages (and thus, by extrapolation, maximum profitability) from their own company. They won't put pressure management not to exploit customers' private information because it would lead to a net loss in revenue.
Thus, the American public votes continuously, day in and day out, that they'd rather have bigger buying power (higher wages, lower prices) than protect their privacy.
The same calculation regrettably applies to protecting the environment, supporting fair labor practices, or having access to quality (read: long lasting) goods.
STOP . AMERICA . NOW
Somehow, I can find a similarity with most P2P.
Hours and hours of media, apps and games we'll never see or use.
"Someday, I may need a piece of software to alter the plans of my future house". HA!
When I had two toys, I played them all the times.
Now I have 500, and I don't play with any of them.
(dang.. another nostalgic post. Note to self: change that signature asap)
Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
> We pollute less (wrong)
> we're more environmentally aware (wrong),
Depends on where you are in the country.
> there's no racism (wrong)
When you have new immigration, you always have racism. Old fears die hard but in Canada they tend to die off with the old generation mostly because the environment is such that there is little to fear from being different because we are all different. Canada has a low birth rate (less than 1.7 children per couple -- we need 2.2 to break even), so in order to preserve our population size, we have a relatively high number of immigrants. Given the dynamics, racism is relatively low (as was recognized by the UN).
> we don't have crime (wrong)
Compared to similar sized cities in the US, we *do* have a lower crime rate. Things are worse now than five years ago, but historically, crime increases with higher unemployment.
> we're clean (wrong - come to Toronto sometime
> and sample one of our many fine street corner
> garbage tornados, sewer reeks and impromptu
> construction debris dumps)
Which part of the city? The federal government eliminated the deficit on the backs of the provinces and they in turn passed down the burden to the cities. Cities *have* suffered as they try to balance their own budgets, but at least in the west end of Toronto and much of the downtown core, things have been kept clean (Not as clean as before but clean nonetheless). Are you talking about north-east Toronto?
> our health care is great (wrong)
Out health care isn't what it used to be, but it is still quite good compared with similar countries. The key fly in the ointment is cancer care. Longer than average wait times hurt cancer patients' chances, so if you have cancer, go south for care.
> Just like in the US, the successful businesses in
> Canada are those which lie, cheat, and abuse their customers.
Yes, but in Canada when it happens, it's a *big deal* and it's our patriotic duty to make sure that we're heard.
Take a look at all the press 'the Sponsorship Scandal' is getting in Canada. What happened? The Liberals didn't document all the money they contracted out to a handful of advertising companies. The Auditor General said that something like 100 million went unaccounted.
Now look at the US with Haliburton. Hundreds of *billions* have gone to this company and the press is silent on the issue. Where is the press? Do people even care?