Spyware Congressional Constituent Outreach Toolkit

This CD-Rom contains sample documents and materials to help congressional offices reach out to and educate constituents about spyware. Consumers, legislators and business are expressing alarm about a growing Internet problem dubbed by the Federal Trade Commission as "spyware." Members of the Congressional Internet Caucus have seen a sharp spike in the amount of constituent complaints regarding this practice. These programs often display unwanted ads, change users' browsers' default home pages, add programs to the system tray and, in some cases, collect personal information. These programs are installed without meaningful consent and are almost always very difficult to uninstall or disable. More information about spyware can be found on the GetNetWise Web site at http://www.getnetwise.org/spotlight/ .

The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee urges you to use the enclosed materials to reach out to your constituents through district press releases, general mailings, Web site services, town hall meetings and through constituent response letters on spyware-related inquiries. Enclosed in the CD-Rom you will find: