Document Type

Technical Report

Publication Date

6-1-2004

Technical Report Number

TR2004-505

Abstract

The World-Wide Web is increasingly used for commerce and access to personal information stored in databases. Although the Web is ``just another medium'' for information exchange, the fact that all the information is stored in computers, and all of the activity happens in computers and computer networks, makes it easier (cheaper) than every to track users' activities. By recording and analyzing user's activities in the Web, activities that may seem to be quite private to many users, it is more likely than ever before that a person's privacy may be threatened. In this paper I examine some of the technology in the Web, and how it affects the privacy of Web users. I also briefly summarize some of the efforts to regulate privacy on the Internet.

Comments

Originally written in 1998; this revision was dated January 3, 1999. The work was unofficially released, then made a Technical Report noin June 2004.

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