It will take more studies and the continued perseverance of chief privacy officers to demonstrate that privacy can positively impact an organization's bottom line. But in the meantime, there is a recent study done by Carnegie Mellon University that bolsters the body of evidence that sound privacy practices can positively impact a consumer's experience. The researchers found in this new study that consumers are more likely to buy products from sites with strong privacy policies.

There will be continued debate over the value of privacy -- and the outcomes will vary. Even the privacy researchers and experts will debate the validity of a particular study's findings, as you will see below in our story about the Carnegie Mellon University study. In this difficult climate, many privacy pros are likely the ones engaged in the front-line battles with skeptical hierarchies bothered by vague ROI results.

At this difficult intersection, the International Association of Privacy Professionals offers privacy pros direction from the experts who have successfully executed a strategy to make privacy integral to their organizations. Below you will find a story about a brilliant keynote speaker, Alex Wright, who will address privacy pros at the upcoming IAPP Privacy Academy 2007, Oct. 22-24, at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. Please join us for this exciting event, which will offer a special focus on privacy and technology.

Email me your views on whether sound privacy policies would entice you to pay more for goods purchased online.

J. Trevor Hughes, CIPP
Executive Director, IAPP