Daniel Wilf-Townsend
The fine print that could undermine new Internet privacy legislation
Right now, Congress is considering a new federal privacy law, but nearly all of the proposals on the table have ignored the crucial issue of forced-arbitration clauses in consumer contracts. Companies use these clauses to prevent customers from suing them, often leaving no practical options for consumers whose rights have been violated. Arbitration clauses are especially harmful when it comes to the Internet, because almost everything we do online involves a contract.