Government selling your personal info to the public is nothing new. In Maryland, the state I live in, driving records and other info collected by the Motor Vehicle Admin. are available to the general public for a fee. Its been that way since 1943. Many, if not most drivers in Maryland don't know that information is being sold. In 1997 a law was passed allowing drivers to close their records, but again most folks don't know that. If you do live in MD check out: mva.state.md.us/TEMP/PRIVACY.HTM call the 800 number there to close out your info. Also "instant junk mail mania" may be the least of our worries. How 'bout this: Company A has a vested interest in some envron. protect. law not passing. Based on your voter reg. info and cross referenced with info from which web sites you visit, credit card receipts, etc., you (and the rest of the voting district) receive a targeted political message, through whatever media, twisting the facts just enough to get you into calling your congressman to sink the bill. Meanwhile A has been hard at work gleaning info against another congressman who happens to be sponsoring the law. The bill dies in debate.
Slashdot Mirror
Government selling your personal info to the public is nothing new. In Maryland, the state I live in, driving records and other info collected by the Motor Vehicle Admin. are available to the general public for a fee. Its been that way since 1943. Many, if not most drivers in Maryland don't know that information is being sold. In 1997 a law was passed allowing drivers to close their records, but again most folks don't know that. If you do live in MD check out: mva.state.md.us/TEMP/PRIVACY.HTM call the 800 number there to close out your info. Also "instant junk mail mania" may be the least of our worries. How 'bout this: Company A has a vested interest in some envron. protect. law not passing. Based on your voter reg. info and cross referenced with info from which web sites you visit, credit card receipts, etc., you (and the rest of the voting district) receive a targeted political message, through whatever media, twisting the facts just enough to get you into calling your congressman to sink the bill. Meanwhile A has been hard at work gleaning info against another congressman who happens to be sponsoring the law. The bill dies in debate.