Introduction
The Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) is a specification and vocabulary that enables Web sites to communicate their data management practices to Web site visitors in a machine-readable format. P3P was developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), an organization created in October 1994 to lead the World Wide Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. The W3C has more than 500 member organizations from around the world and has earned international recognition for its contributions to the growth of the Web. More information about the W3C, including the official specification for P3P, can be found at http://www.w3.org/p3p.
This guide is a cooperative effort between the W3C and the Internet Education Foundation to provide organizations with the information they need to implement P3P on their Web site(s). It provides information on the tasks and resources required and gives guidance on how to best plan and execute the implementation. The guide is divided into four sections.
Section 1 provides background on the growing concern about privacy, data protection practices, and where P3P fits in the online privacy arena. It discusses various practical reasons why organizations that operate Web sites should take the time and expense to implement P3P.
Section 2 is an introduction to how P3P works, real-world examples of P3P in practice, and a list of some of the P3P-enabled tools currently available.
Section 3 discusses various approaches to implementing P3P and some suggested preliminary steps - such as conducting a Web site audit - that should be taken before creating P3P policies.
Section 4 details the syntax of P3P, the process of generating and deploying P3P policies, and suggested testing and troubleshooting methods.
The Appendix provides more detailed reference materials to aid in the preparation and deployment of P3P policies.
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