Privacy Accountability

Advancing privacy best practices and operating independent, third-party accountability programs to help businesses and consumers navigate the digital marketplace.

Our Work

BBB National Programs works with individual companies, industry groups, and regulators to develop, monitor, and enforce robust privacy standards. Our trusted privacy programs are tailored to respond to the unique privacy challenges presented by specific data types, like children’s data, or use cases, such as emerging technologies and cross-border transfers.

Global Privacy Certifications

Through BBB National Programs’ Global Privacy Division, businesses show their partners and customers that they put privacy first, no matter where they operate. Our programs serve as key elements of frameworks such as the Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) and EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF), bridging gaps between divergent privacy and data protection regimes.

Children’s Privacy and COPPA

As the first FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor Program in the U.S., the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of BBB National Programs helps companies achieve business goals while complying with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Privacy Law and News Tracking

The Privacy Initiatives team members at BBB National Programs closely track developing standards and regulations in the U.S. and abroad. They share these insights through blogs, podcasts, webinars, and more.

Advertising Privacy

To build trust in the marketplace, consumers need to have transparency and choice about the collection and use of their data for interest-based ads. We monitor how companies inform consumers about their collection and use of data about individuals’ web-surfing and app usage behavior, resolve consumer complaints, and enforce the DAA’s Principles.

Health Data Privacy

While the use and disclosure of health-related data held by doctors and insurance companies is regulated by HIPAA, data collected and used by makers of wearable devices, health and wellness apps, online services, and the Internet of Things is not. It is time to raise the bar for protecting consumer health privacy.

State Privacy Accountability

As an accountability partner, BBB National Programs can verify whether a company’s privacy policies and procedures comply with key provisions of state laws, such as CPRA.

TeenAge Privacy Solutions

The Center for Industry Self-Regulation convened a diverse set of industry stakeholders to help solve the challenges of data privacy and online safety for teenagers. Participating businesses are working to design safeguards to prevent online harms to this unique group of consumers, building a bridge between privacy protections for children and adults that can serve as a global model.

National Partners in Privacy

BBB National Programs works with businesses to drive the adoption of unified privacy practices, facilitate consumer education and choice, and offer consumers accessible privacy dispute resolution. Our National Partners influence the development of enforceable and fair mechanisms that protect consumers in the marketplace and enable responsible businesses to compete on trust and accountability.

Media & Resources

At BBB National Programs, we advance privacy best practices and operate third-party accountability programs to help businesses and consumers navigate the digital marketplace. Our expertise can help keep you up-to-date on the evolving privacy landscape.