Friday, October 5, 2007
Chapter 2
This chapter provides a history lesson, and shows us the roots of privacy loss and the lessons that can be learned from the mistakes of the past. It was interesting to see how information databases have evolved and what affect that has had on privacy over the years. This leads us to the main issue discussed in this chapter which is the accountability and protection of the information that is stored in large databases. The book uses the example of credit reporting agencies. It’s scary to think that a private company can have this much control over your life, and so little accountability for the information that it reports. Most of our lives and who we are is stored in a computer database somewhere. When we graduate college the university keeps computer records that prove that we graduated, what would happen if there was a mistake in these records and suddenly no one believed you had a college degree? Better hold onto that copy of your diploma. Our SSN’s, our birth certificates, our citizenship, our credit reports, one mistake in any of these documents could be detrimental to us, and if there is a mistake could you prove it? Many victims of fraud and incorrect credit reporting could not and had to wait seven years for their credit to be cleared of these mistakes. This brings us back to my last post when the statement was made that “It’s a world where computers are assumed to be correct, and people wrong.” With all of this vital information stored in databases, and with so many businesses requiring the knowledge of your SSN identity theft is becoming prevalent. The number of people at these companies that have access to your private information is sickening. In my last job I literally could personally access thousands of names addresses and SSN’s from each and every one of our clients, I could access there bank accounts and routing numbers as well, and the list goes on. What about the less important information like cell phone records, and credit cards and banks that track your every purchase and give you cash back or airline rewards depending on which stores you shop at and how much you spend. We find these services convenient but when you think about it it’s just another way in which we are being watched, it’s impossible for us to know who has or will have access to this information, and how they will use it. I can think of one way that they’ll be using it…They’ll sell your purchasing habits to marketers! Prepare yourself for more junk mail…
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4 comments:
Even more disturbing: even though you knew there was a mistake in your credit and you notify the correct person to change it, it doesn't get done. You still find yourself battling creditors and other people looking for you to pay up. At least you probably don't see too many credit card applications in the mail while all this is going on...we all know how much you hate junk mail!!
I also agree with you about how scary it is that computers are practically taking over. Sure they can do operations that humans can do in a fraction of the time, but we also need to account for user error. Humans do still operate computers and humans make mistakes.
Credit reporting agencies have so much power, apparently so few restrictions and even less accountability. It is a shame that errors are so difficult to correct when they can affect people in such devastating ways. As you noted, the information stored on these databases is easily accessible by many people who have no business having access to it.
It amazes me that companies can keep personal information including bank account and routing numbers on its customers. This type of information should only be available on a need-to-know basis and employees should have limits on their access to personal information.
You are absolutely correct about the mundane personal information that is being stored on each of us, even down to the items we purchase at the grocery store. It would be very easy to create an in-depth picture of our likes and dislikes, our purchasing habits, the places we frequent as well as any number of personal characteristics. Having this type of information available to others considerably reduces our privacy.
True preparing ourselves for more junk mail. Sooner or later though, I think credit reporting agencies may even ties us down with our email and sell that information out. You think you have spam now; just wait, especially with how intelligent spam is getting.
The control and accountability aspects of obtaining information are definitely disproportioned. There is more control than accountability which can result in careless use of consumer’s personal information. If companies or government are not really accountable when information is misused, what is to keep them from misusing it again? In the early stages of credit agencies, why couldn’t I view my credit? It is mine. Yet they would give it out to anyone for a price. That doesn’t really make sense to me. However, from a business point of view, I understand wanted to know such things as purchasing habits. But I don’t believe personal information such as credit card numbers or home addresses should be given without the consumer’s permission. If consumers had the option to give permission to share their information with advertising agencies for things such as coupons, I would be willing to bet that ad agencies would get better results than just taking everyone’s info and sending out junk mail.
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