The California Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003 requires Web sites to identify the types of information collected and the date the policy went into effect.

Web sites must also state whether the information will be shared with third parties, how to update the information and who to contact at the site to make changes.

Jordana Beebe, of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, said the law will help consumers keep track of who has access to their personal information.

"Not only are you protected when you give your information to a company, but you'll know upfront exactly what they're going to do with it," Beebe said.

Personal information includes names, addresses, phone numbers and Social Security numbers. Once a company is notified of a violation, they have 30 days to post an update of their privacy policy. If you want to put a company on notice about their privacy policy, Privacy Rights has written a letter for you that you can send -- www.privacyrights.org/Letters/online1.htm