Selecting Applications Based on Their Privacy Features
When selecting applications for purchase or building applications to be used internally, be cognizant of their privacy features. Using applications with privacy features makes it easier to protect your customers personal information. Applications should have privacy settings that permit users to indicate whether they can be contacted and, if so, how they can be contacted. These settings should also permit users to indicate how their data can be used. For example, a customer or business partner should be able to indicate whether her data can be shared among different groups within your company or with third parties. Also, look for applications that have an unsubscribe feature that users can access from the Web.
Finally, look for applications that come with a privacy statement or that permit the inclusion of your privacy statement. This will allow employees of your company who use the application to easily see the guidelines for handling the data they are collecting.