I couldn't agree with you more. Data confidentiality almost always takes a backseat to availability.
I recently was tipped on a website in Cincinnati that allows you to actually look up digitized images of all speeding, misdemeanor and some felony tickets, court documents and cases. (All containing name, birthdate, ss#, place of birth, drivers license number, address, sometimes occupation, etc.)
The auditor's website also allows you to look up homeowners and find out things like how much they paid for their homes, a digital picture of the front and back, a topographical map of their street, lot size, etc.
All these things provide you with all the information that you need for many types of crimes.
Our government is holding business's (especially public companies, healthcare and financial) feet to the fire on protecting private information (see Choice Point, DSW, etc)... who is holding THEM responsible for THEIR actions???
http://www.detroitbuzz.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&task=view&id=270&Itemid=54
If we don't take action, it's our fault.
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I recently was tipped on a website in Cincinnati that allows you to actually look up digitized images of all speeding, misdemeanor and some felony tickets, court documents and cases. (All containing name, birthdate, ss#, place of birth, drivers license number, address, sometimes occupation, etc.)
The auditor's website also allows you to look up homeowners and find out things like how much they paid for their homes, a digital picture of the front and back, a topographical map of their street, lot size, etc.
All these things provide you with all the information that you need for many types of crimes.
Our government is holding business's (especially public companies, healthcare and financial) feet to the fire on protecting private information (see Choice Point, DSW, etc)... who is holding THEM responsible for THEIR actions??? http://www.detroitbuzz.com/index.php?option=com_co ntent&task=view&id=270&Itemid=54
If we don't take action, it's our fault.