Consumer Awareness Project Focuses on Protecting Online Privacy

AT&T and Call For Action, a Consumer Help Organization, Announce Consumer-Oriented, Interactive Program on Online Privacy

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AT&T* and Call For Action, a consumer mediation and education organization, announced today a new program that will focus on educating and empowering consumers on a variety of privacy-related topics.  As the nation recognizes January 28, 2010 as Data Privacy Day, AT&T is using the opportunity to further highlight online privacy practices.  Consumers are being encouraged to examine how they are currently protecting themselves online, and what steps they can take to ensure their privacy is secure whether connecting through their mobile device, home broadband connection or any other Internet connection.  

Call For Action, with support from AT&T, is developing an interactive webpage which will be housed on Call For Action's Web Site.  This webpage will serve as an interactive guide containing tips and information to help consumers protect their privacy to enable them to shop and explore online with confidence.  This webpage is scheduled to go live during National Consumer Protection Week, March 7-13, 2010.  It will also contain helpful information regarding advertising privacy, online cookies, parental controls and other privacy settings.

"Call For Action is thankful for the support from AT&T on developing this program in honor of National Consumer Protection Week, and to join the effort in helping to raise awareness and educate the public on online privacy," said Eduard Bartholme, Call For Action executive director.

"We commend the work of Call For Action for creating a program dedicated to educating consumers about online privacy," said Dorothy Attwood, AT&T senior vice president for public policy and chief privacy officer.   "At AT&T, we take online privacy very seriously and are dedicated to helping customers have a secure online experience.  We are honored to support organizations that are committed to the same principles."  

Last year AT&T and the American School Counselor Association announced their support of iKeepSafe's Project PRO, an effort to teach students how to protect their privacy and reputation online. Project PRO enables school counselors, parents and teens to become active in managing a student's digital reputation through innovative educational resources such as video clips and training documents.  To date more than 4,200 educators and counselors throughout the country have sought out the curriculum.

Click here to view Dorothy Attwood's interview on Small Business Television regarding AT&T's Privacy by Design program.

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*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates -- AT&T operating companies -- are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^SM and AT&T │DIRECTV^SM brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T's Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE^® magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

About Call For Action (http://www.callforaction.org/)

Call For Action, Inc. (CFA) is an international, nonprofit network of consumer hotlines founded in 1963. The organization is tax-exempt and donations are tax-deductible.  Call For Action's mission is to empower consumers by giving them a voice larger than their own. Volunteer professionals in offices around the world are trained to assist consumers through mediation and education to resolve problems with businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. Call For Action's services are free and confidential and available to all individuals and small businesses.

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SOURCE Call For Action