Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) is a project of the Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 501(c)(3) non-profit consumer advocacy organization. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is devoted to upholding the right to privacy and protecting consumer

Consumer

Consumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer occurs in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary.-Economics and marketing:...

s against identity theft

Identity theft

Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...

 and other privacy crimes.

It was established in 1992 by Beth Givens and is based in San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

.

Mission

The Clearinghouse has a two-part mission, consumer information and consumer advocacy:

• Raise consumers' awareness of how technology affects personal privacy.
• Empower consumers to take action to control their own personal information by providing practical tips on privacy protection.
• Respond to specific privacy-related complaints from consumers, intercede on their behalf, and, when appropriate, refer them to the proper organizations for further assistance.
• Document the nature of consumers' complaints and questions about privacy in reports, testimony and speeches and make them available to policy makers, industry representatives, consumer advocates and the media.
• Advocate for consumers' privacy rights in local, state, and federal public policy proceedings, including legislative testimony, regulatory agency hearings, task forces and study commissions as well as conferences and workshops.

The PRC received the 1997 Consumer Action Award for its "outstanding service to consumers," and PRC Director Beth Givens received a 2002 Pioneer Award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation

Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an international non-profit digital rights advocacy and legal organization based in the United States...

. They have published numerous resources online and in print.