FYI: Web Firms Choose Profit Over Privacy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A54888-2003Jun30?language=printer
...
Many firms use tactics designed to hide their intent to gather and profit 
from the data they collect, information that grows in value as more and 
more people use the Internet for information and shopping....
With the onslaught of spam, almost all companies promise not to sell 
consumer data. But many don't mention that such information is rented. This 
means that the list owner won't release the data to an outside marketer, 
but it will send messages to the list on the outsider's behalf. Targeted 
lists available for rent number in the thousands, including those from 
magazines, professional organizations and even political interest groups 
such as Republicans for Jesus.
...

Received on Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:40:01 UTC