Firms Launching Campaign on Net Privacy

Twelve leading technology companies, including America Online and Intel, said they plan to launch next month a public relations campaign to educate consumers about protecting their privacy on the Internet. The $500,000 campaign will include newspaper ads, radio public service announcements and banner advertisements on the Internet, according to TRUSTe, a privacy watchdog group coordinating the effort. The ads will offer privacy tips and encourage users to avoid sites without prominently displayed privacy policies. Other companies participating in the campaign include AltaVista, Microsoft, Excite@Home, IBM and Yahoo.