Are certain companies and brands more trusted than others to protect consumer’s privacy?

TRUSTe and the Ponemon Institute have announced the results of the 2007 Most Trusted Companies for Privacy Study, an annual evaluation of how consumers perceive organizations that collect and manage their personal information. The 2007 Most Trusted Companies for Privacy Study ranks companies and federal agencies industry-by-industry as well as providing a list of overall top performing companies.

Overall, the top three rated companies for privacy trust in 2007 are, in order, American Express, Charles Schwab, and IBM. In 2006 the top three companies were American Express, Amazon, and Procter & Gamble. Previous years' winners have included E-Loan, Hewlett-Packard, and eBay.

The 2007 Most Trusted Companies for Privacy Study is a web-based study that gathers information from survey participants. A statistical analysis of useable responses gathered over a six-week period, which ended in February 2007, is then conducted. Responses related to more than 200 companies were analyzed and ranked. A complete description of the study's methodology is included with the report.