At his yearly news conference, Hanspeter Thür, the Swiss data protection commissioner, warned that people need to be aware that their data is a currency traded for online services. "The business system is always the same. Companies provide clients with a new and interesting online service. And clients pay by giving their personal data," said Thür. Swissinfo.ch reports the commissioner's office is backing legal amendments to require that service providers offer better privacy protection as the default. "Opt in rather than opt out should apply," said Thür. He also pointed out the need to increase privacy awareness in teens given the risks involved with social networking and the need to increase international cooperation.
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