100 Million Victims of Data Theft

jcatcw writes "With the latest significant data breach — theft of a Boeing laptop with unencrypted personal information on 382,000 employees — the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse estimates that the total number of data breach victims has passed 100 million since they started tracking in February 2005. The director, Beth Givens, admits 'the number 100 million is largely a fictional number,' but it surely errs on the low side. Since California is still the only state with disclosure laws, incidents are difficult to analyze fully. However, Congress this week passed a bill requiring that the Department of Veterans Affairs report breaches."

Comments

Re:Personal Information

[IpSo_]

I actually have an uncle who copyrighted his name and also became his own "sovereign nation" (or something along those lines) which actually enabled him to skirt many laws in Canada at least. I can't remember the exact name of the "program" he got the information from, something like "In The Truth", but its pretty interesting stuff. The stories he tells are hilarious.

Stories like fining judges large amounts of money for using his name without permission (it was copyrighted after all) and they ACTUALLY PAID, not to mention the charges were dropped.

Laws are apparently designed to screw over anyone who isn't in the "know". Ever wonder what a birth certificate is REALLY for? Look on the back of a Canadian birth certificate and you'll notice that it is actually a BANK NOTE. When you are born and your parents obtain a birth certificate for you, you are essentially agreeing to pay back your portion of the Canadian debt. No birth certificate? No debt obligations, no obligation to pay taxes, etc... etc...

Drivers licenses is apparently similar. By obtaining a drivers license you are agreeing to abide by the motor vehicle laws. If you don't have a drivers license and you know what you are doing, they can't touch you for breaking any of the laws. My uncle didn't renew his license, and was hauled off to court one day after being pulled over by the police. After a short trial where he basically told the judge (in the proper words) to go to hell, the charges were dropped and he was released. The police in his town know him pretty well and seem to stay clear.

Its crazy what people are doing with this sort of thing.