3 ms·

Data brokers won’t even tell the government how it uses, sells your data

53 points by rosser 13y ago

anigbrowl 13y ago
In Europe you have the right to make such firms disclose all data that they have on you, and even to make them delete it after a certain length of time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Protection_Directive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Protection_Directive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulat...
- cinquemb 13y ago
  However, European privacy directives contain explicit exemptions for many governmental organizations, including the EU itself, national security, taxation, and policing, and would not have protected citizens against the abuses suffered at the hands of fascist or communist governments It's interesting to compare: in the US, corporate databases == good , government databases == bad, and it appears the exact opposite in the EU. Then there's this: EU directives are addressed to the member states, and aren't legally binding for citizens in principle. The member states must transpose the directive into internal law. Directive 95/46/EC on the protection of personal data had to be transposed by the end of 1998. All member states have enacted their own data protection legislation. Which just makes me think from where we are today, neither approach seems to be ok for the avg person, on top of the behaviors and incentives for individuals/companies/governments aren't lining up. What's going to give for something to fall which ever way (or is there really anything to give way at all)?
  - ams6110 13y ago
    The problem is we're also learning corporate databases == government databases.
    - cinquemb 13y ago
      Seeing as corporations are pretty much legal entities created by states, (whether they be the US or EU states, or anywhere else for that matter) which allow for privileges for those who run them based on the state where incorporated, that doesn't seem to change the status quo. To me, that just makes this all look like some kind of grandstanding to placate those on the sidelines, and if we are honest with ourselves, most of whom will continue to use (and be used by) such services which leads me back to my question…
toufka 13y ago
Said hearing can be watched here [1]. The industry speaks around the 30min mark. [1] http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MarketingC http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MarketingC
dredmorbius 13y ago
I'm increasingly coming of the viewpoint that rather than only obscure data, people need to start taking active measures to confound the record. And sue for misuses / discrimination.

53 points by rosser 13y ago

In Europe you have the right to make such firms disclose all data that they have on you, and even to make them delete it after a certain length of time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Protection_Directive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Protection_Directive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulat...

cinquemb 13y ago
However, European privacy directives contain explicit exemptions for many governmental organizations, including the EU itself, national security, taxation, and policing, and would not have protected citizens against the abuses suffered at the hands of fascist or communist governments It's interesting to compare: in the US, corporate databases == good , government databases == bad, and it appears the exact opposite in the EU. Then there's this: EU directives are addressed to the member states, and aren't legally binding for citizens in principle. The member states must transpose the directive into internal law. Directive 95/46/EC on the protection of personal data had to be transposed by the end of 1998. All member states have enacted their own data protection legislation. Which just makes me think from where we are today, neither approach seems to be ok for the avg person, on top of the behaviors and incentives for individuals/companies/governments aren't lining up. What's going to give for something to fall which ever way (or is there really anything to give way at all)?
- ams6110 13y ago
  The problem is we're also learning corporate databases == government databases.
  - cinquemb 13y ago
    Seeing as corporations are pretty much legal entities created by states, (whether they be the US or EU states, or anywhere else for that matter) which allow for privileges for those who run them based on the state where incorporated, that doesn't seem to change the status quo. To me, that just makes this all look like some kind of grandstanding to placate those on the sidelines, and if we are honest with ourselves, most of whom will continue to use (and be used by) such services which leads me back to my question…

toufka 13y ago

Said hearing can be watched here [1]. The industry speaks around the 30min mark. [1] http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MarketingC http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MarketingC

dredmorbius 13y ago

I'm increasingly coming of the viewpoint that rather than only obscure data, people need to start taking active measures to confound the record. And sue for misuses / discrimination.