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eBay Provides No Privacy For Sellers

Phanatic1a writes "Quoted in an article in The Nation, eBay's chief of security Joseph Sullivan brags up eBay's "flexible" privacy policy to LEOs, telling them "If you are a law-enforcement officer, all you have to do is send us a fax with a request for information, and ask about the person behind the seller's identity number, and we will provide you with his name, address, sales history and other details--all without having to produce a court order." The tens of millions of Paypal customers eBay has access to the financial records of might be curious to see what else Sullivan promises..."

12 of 470 comments (clear)

  1. other details by frieked · · Score: 5, Funny

    we will provide you with his name, address, sales history and other details

    Other details... hmmmm, wonder if this means: Seller is super great/fast AAAA+++++++++ recommend to all A+A+A+A+A+A+

    --

    I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.
    -Xenocrates
  2. I'm hosed... by zedmelon · · Score: 5, Funny

    eBay itself goes further than this, employing six investigators who are charged with tracking down "suspicious people" and "suspicious behavior.

    I guess I'd better not post any more "Stable version of Windows" auctions...

    *sigh*

    --
    Mom says my .sig can beat up your .sig.
  3. Because after all ... by burgburgburg · · Score: 5, Funny
    Nobody with bad intent has ever been able to figure out how to fake a fax. I mean, law enforcement letterhead is more secure then nuclear launch codes.

    I'm sleeping easier now.

  4. Re:If there were 2 Ebays, by I_am_God_Here · · Score: 2, Funny
    one were police could get names and addresses of sellers and one not, where would you buy and sell?


    I would use both. One for porn and EQ characters and the other for everything else.

    --

    Capitalism: unequal distribution of wealth
    Socialism: equal distribution of poverty
  5. Don't you get it? by Rogerborg · · Score: 5, Funny

    If citizens of the United States are allowed privacy, a presumption of innocence, or the protection of due process, then the terrorists have already won.

    Wait... that doesn't sound right. Which of us is smoking crack?

    --
    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  6. Re:Cash Only by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, your life is boring enough that we've mostly stopped watching you. Althoug when we get bored, we occasionally play a conspiracy geek version of "license plate bingo". The goal is to figure out which Robert Ludlum book you figured out a particular move from.

    Also, try talking to that girl at the bar next time instead of spitting your drink all over her when she smiles at you.

    Sincerely,
    Your friends at the gummint.

  7. NBC Weapons by hadesan · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess this kills the auction for all those terrorists buying and selling nuclear, chemical, biological weapons online...

  8. New Item Listing - EBAY INFO CD *NR* $.98 by halo9 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Get the 'How to get Information on Anyone On Ebay' cd. Learn how to send a fax to Ebay Headquarters and recieve information on anyone who uses Ebay's Service. ALL THIS AND MORE FOR ONLY $.98!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. I'll show them: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    eBay
    2145 Hamilton Avenue
    San Jose, CA 95125

    Posted anonymously for obvious reasons.

  10. Re:The Anarchist's Cookbook, was a hoax by Jaysyn · · Score: 2, Funny

    What gives? The thermite worked fine.

    Jaysyn

    --
    There is a war going on for your mind.
  11. LEOs? by TheOverlord · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can understand giving it to Leos, I just hope they don't start giving out the information to Capricorns, Virgos and Scorpios. That'd be terrible...

  12. Re:The Anarchist's Cookbook, was a hoax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "Uh huh, explain that to my 6th grade teacher's car hood. And engine block."

    Ahhhhh, that explains it, 6'th grade. Are you sure you read it right son. Are you sure it didn't say "raising termites" instead of "making thermite"

    Well, maybe by the time you hit the 8'th grade you will have learned the difference between real and make believe.

    Thanks.