Public Information

"You are what you buy." To an extent, this phrase has never proven to be more apt, for, in our commercial world of credit cards, loans and online shopping, what you do with your money is all part of your credit report. To a financial institution, your credit report is your identity. However, combined with public information now easily accessible on the Web, one is seemingly just a click away from complete... Read more >

Data Protection Act

What do you consider private information? What does your neighbor? Phrases like "in the privacy of your own home" are tossed about with reckless abandon even though, in a number of states, what transpires there may still be subjected to public law.A great deal of what we consider to be private falls under a "reasonable expectation of privacy." From this vague notion, it is clear that we live in a transparent... Read more >

Credit Reporting

While personal credit was issued historically on a one-on-one basis or through networks of informants, as a business, credit reporting and economic profiling has only recently marked its centennial in the United States.   As smaller credit reporting agencies were assimilated during the rise of Retail Credit Co. (currently Equifax), beginning in 1899, the business of information brokerage expanded nationally... Read more >

European Union Privacy Law

While the European Union allows for a great deal of privacy regulation to be controlled by legislation within its member countries, there are a number of issues that it addresses across borders. Generally stricter than US privacy laws, the EU, which arguably is geared more towards commerce regulation, has put forth a great deal of effort in protecting its citizens' individual privacy, especially in working with... Read more >

Opt Out vs. Opt In

The biggest discrepancy between European Union and United States privacy protection practices is the differences in opt-in/opt-out regulation of data collection. Addressing the issue as it relates to commerce is important. While federal anti-spam legislation and new state policies in the US have increased consumer and customer options, the question remains whether it would be better to mirror EU policies. Opt Out... Read more >

Consumer Awareness

With the option to opt-out and the force of government regulation, one might get the impression that the business of data exchange was detrimental to the consumer. However, there are a number of benefits to the degree of freedom that businesses enjoy.Credit, Loans and the ConsumerWith the GLB Act, FCRA, FACT and the PFPA protecting one's privacy and the quality of shared information, official documentation provides... Read more >

Identity Theft

Identity theft refers to a crime in which one person steals personal data with the intent of achieving some kind of gain. Personal data can include a name, social security number, driver’s license number, credit card or bank account number, etc. While perpetrators of identity theft generally seek financial gain, some seek driver’s licenses, birth certificates, or other government documentation. Physical... Read more >

Privacy Matters

With the Internet becoming a vital part of our lives it's now easier than ever to shop, to communicate and find information. Having so much information readily available has offered the public many advantages, but the downside is that privacy matters and privacy issues have become a real problem. Identity theft and Internet identity theft are the fastest growing crimes in the country. They account for nearly 50... Read more >

DNA and Your Privacy

The discovery and mapping of DNA has helped make huge advances in medicine, technology, and forensics. Gathering DNA evidence has helped capture criminals, identify disease in its early stages, and discover people’s ancestry.   Much can be learned about a person from their DNA, from genetic predispositions to paternity. With such sensitive personal information available through your DNA, it is important... Read more >