California law requires Web sites to "conspicuously" display a privacy-policy link

Saul Hansell at the NY Times concludes that Google is in violation of the California Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003 because it doesn’t "conspicuously" display a link to its privacy policy. 

Excerpt: "… a 2004 analysis by law firm Cooley Godward Kronish doesn’t list any other option for conspicuous notice other than placing the privacy policy itself or a link to it on a site’s home page. And the California Office of Information Security and Data Protection offers this recommendation to Web sites:

Use a conspicuous link on your home page containing the word “privacy.” Make the link conspicuous by using larger type than the surrounding text, contrasting color, or symbols that call attention to it.

See also: (list is automatically generated)

• Privacy policy for Web sites – sample language posted
• Privacy policy for Web sites – sample language
• Contracts
• WiFi wireless networks may no longer be secure – companies subject to privacy laws may need to beef up their security
• California Anti-Spam Law – Welcome, Plaintiffs’ Bar

Tagged as: Intellectual property, Privacy