Microsoft plans to incorporate the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)-developed Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) specification into its Internet Explorer 6 and Windows XP operating system, both available in fall 2001. P3P lets Internet surfers select levels of privacy protection in dealing with Web sites, and in particular with the sites' use of cookie files. But many analysts question whether P3P is sufficient to protect users' privacy and worry about possible Microsoft domination of Web privacy.
The privacy tools in Internet Explorer 6 will let
The purpose of the P3P specification is to enable:
* web-sites to specify their personal data use and disclosure practices;
* web-users to specify their expectations concerning personal data disclosure practices; and
* software agents to undertake negotiation, on behalf of the parties, in order to reach an agreement concerning the exchange of data between them.
In effect, it is to provide means whereby an individual can have sufficient information that he or she can make an informed decision on whether to permit further use of the data, or
Abstract
This is the specification of the Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P). This document, along with its normative references, includes all the specification necessary for the implementation of interoperable P3P applications.
Status of This Document
This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. The latest status of this document series is maintained at the W3C.
This is the W3C Recommendation of the the Platform for Privacy Preferences 1.0 (P3P1.0)
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