TRUSTe Celebrates Tenth Anniversary
TRUSTe was established in 1997 as an independent, not for profit organization to build confidence in the emerging Internet. Today, its programs continue to build consumer trust. "As we approach ten years, what is obvious is privacy challenges and trust challenges have not gone away," says Fran Maier, executive director of TRUSTe. "I am proud of what TRUSTe has done to advance better privacy practices on websites. I feel very happy about the thousands of companies who have our seal, because I know that they are not sharing information without permission and that they regard privacy as an important value."
In those ten years the nature of threats have changed and TRUSTe has evolved with those changes. "The challenges, the vulnerabilities, and the threats have changed in substantial ways," notes Maier. "More unsavory players have entered into the marketplace. Threats such as spyware have emerged as big issues. I think if you look toward the future-as far as where the technology is going and where the world is going-it is no longer a domestic issue, but an international one."
Maier proudly states that TRUSTe has much to celebrate. As a Silicon Valley organization, the nonprofit has stayed abreast emerging trends and threats for ten years, originally offering solutions for email, and now for the Web. "We do a lot of real work," she says. "We touch a lot of companies and touch a lot of consumers. It is what makes TRUSTe special." SJ/TMP
TRUSTe 1997-2007
October 22, 2007-TRUSTe celebrates 10 years
March 15, 2007-Fran Maier, executive director of TRUSTe, testifies before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives
February 15, 2007-TRUSTe publishes initial Trusted Download Beta Program Whitelist. Whitelisted software from companies, including Coupons.com, Crawler and WhenU, certified to give users control of downloadable software
2007-Sealholder Websites: 2,400
November 3, 2006-TRUSTe Launches Trusted Download Beta Program to certify that consumer software is not spyware. TRUSTe invites companies to submit applications to join first independent whitelist of consumer downloadable software.
2006-Sealholder Websites: 1,900
November 16, 2005-TRUSTe and sponsors representing leading content and search providers, anti-spyware vendors and online advertisers announce the Trusted Download Program, the first independent industry standards, monitoring and enforcement program for downloadable software
July 26, 2005-TRUSTe launches new Email Privacy Seal certification program for companies to assure consumers that they won't be subjected to spam when they submit their email address online
February 9, 2005-TRUSTe revokes it's seal from FreeiPods.com, a Gratis Internet company, which sold customer information to third parties, violating TRUSTe privacy policy
February 17, 2004-TRUSTe launches first wireless privacy principles and implementation guidelines to provide vendors serving the mobile market with actionable and practical guidelines for protecting consumer privacy
2002-Sealholder Websites: 1,400
November 25, 2002-TRUSTe launches international privacy service to certify privacy policies and offers its dispute resolution services in foreign languages for United States-based companies with global operations
October 4, 2001-TRUSTe names Fran Maier as new executive director
May 23, 2001-Federal Trade Commission grants the TRUSTe children's privacy seal program Safe Harbor status under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
November 1, 2000-TRUSTe becomes first privacy oversight group to launch a European Union safe harbor privacy program
August 14, 2000-TRUSTe ranked as the most trusted symbol on the web by Cheskin Research
January 12, 2000-TRUSTe approves 1,000th licensee
September 15, 1999-TRUSTe rated most visible symbol on the Internet by Nielsen//NetRatings
October 13, 1998-TRUSTe introduces children's seal program
June 1997-TRUSTe founded by Electronic Frontier Foundation and Commerce.net