Intelligent Enterprise

More than 7 in 10 major companies analyzed by a research and consulting firm scored poorly for their policies toward re-using personal data for marketing purposes.

The Customer Respect Group analyzed 464 major corporate Web sites to determine online privacy trends. Among the findings in its annual Privacy Report is the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry is the worst in terms of online privacy, scoring 5.4 out of a possible 10.

The travel and airlines industry performed the best with an average rating of 7.4, the CRG said Friday.

Overall, 72 percent of the companies analyzed scored "poor" for their policies toward re-using personal data for marketing purposes, the CRG said. Only 42 percent scored "good" for their policies toward sharing of personal data, and only 23 percent had policies that were considered "good" for allowing users to destroy their own information stored on corporate databases.

The top 10 companies rated for privacy were Intel, Expedia, E-Loan, Verizon Wireless, Estee Lauder Companies, Marriott International, Con-Way Transportation Services, IBM and Medco Health Solutions.