Attorney General's News Release

September 14, 2000

Web site violated law by giving out personal information to third parties after stating it would not, Nixon says

Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon on Wednesday (Sept. 13) sued an Internet business that Nixon said was giving personal information about consumers to third parties after telling consumers it would not do so.

Nixon filed the lawsuit in Greene County Circuit Court against More.com Inc., a business which sells health care and nutrition products on its Web site. The More.com Web site contains a privacy policy that states in part that "More.com does not give, sell or rent your personal information to third parties for purposes other than fulfilling your request."

"Web sites should not be selling consumers' personal information to other businesses when the site's privacy policy clearly states that information won't be shared to others," Nixon said. "Consumers have a right to be upset when the companies giving them assurances of privacy and non-disclosure are not keeping their word.

"Nixon added that More.com also is deceiving consumers visiting its site by not informing them that the More.com Web site contains "web bugs." Web bugs are devices used by third parties to receive or share information regarding consumers' visits to those sites.

An investigator with the Attorney General's Office using an assumed name attempted to order contact lenses through the More.com Web site. He was unsuccessful in placing the order, but was subsequently contacted under the assumed name and solicited by LensExpress for the purchase of contact lenses. The investigator had not contacted LensExpress under that assumed name.

Nixon is asking the court to issue an injunction prohibiting More.com from misrepresenting to consumers that their information would not be shared with third parties if, in fact, it is. He also is asking the court to order any penalties, court costs and investigative and litigation costs as the court may find appropriate.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818