🚀 go-pugleaf

Stacy Simmons wrote:
> 
> On 20 Sep 1996 22:36:20 GMT, fseipel@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Frank
> Seipel) wrote:
> 
> >What's wrong with private companies maintaining databases on individuals,
> >anyway?  There are many small databases which contain personal
> >information.  These databases are accessible to professionals such as
> >private investigators, and/or anyone willing to pay the hefty access
> >charges.
> 
> There's nothing wrong with it unless the company doesn't keep track of
> or somehow allow me to find out who has ordered that information on
> me. I also don't find anything wrong with it if everyone in the
> database is legally an "adult."
> 
> Not that Lexis-Nexis has participated in this practice, but there is a
> company called Metromail (subsidiary of R.R. Donnelly and Sons) that
> was selling the names, ages and addresses of children to anyone over a
> 900 number for the cost of $3/minute, hardly a hefty charge. However,
> this practice was  exposed by the media and they've stopped utilizing
> the 900 number approach (see Jeff Woodford! sometimes you don't need
> the government to interfere! Here is a good example of volition over
> coersion for you).
> 
> Also there is a case where Metromail supposedly used jailed felons to
> keypunch the information on consumers into their database. One
> "gentleman" employed for such practice is alleged to have used the
> information he obtained to write a threatening and obscene letter to a
> woman in another state. They (Metromail) also allegedly sold
> information on 5,000 children to a reporter for KCBS-TV/L.A. for $277
> (again, hardly a "hefty" fee). The reporter used the name "Richard
> Allen Davis," the name of the convicted and condemned killer of Polly
> Klaas.
> 
> Now I don't know about you, but I have a problem with a company using
> a jailed rapist or child molester to input information about my
> family, especially if the information includes names and ages of my
> children. I also have a  problem with a company that doesn't verify in
> some way who their selling the info to. Fortunately, exposure and
> individual or class-action lawsuits can stop a company from such
> reckless practices without the aid of ADDITIONAL legislation.
> 
> For more information see (includes phone numbers):
> http://www.klaaskids.inter.net/pg-rel17.htm
> http://www.klaaskids.inter.net/pg-rel18.htm
> http://www.klaaskids.inter.net/pg-back.htm
> 
> Stacy Simmons
> sas@freespeech.com
> >--
> 
> >Frank Seipel
> >fseipel@freenet.columbus.oh.us

Yes, exactly, why would anyone want to leave their personal information
open to anyone with the money to pay for it?  After all, the service is
not to help you, it is to help someone else.  Does 1984 ring a bell to
anyone here?  For a fairly evenhanded approach, see

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/3369/tixepp.html

And the removal form it links to.

Best.  (We got to keep thinking)