Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!looking!brad
From: brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton)
Subject: Re: What is private information?
Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd.
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 90 08:16:15 GMT
Message-ID: <1990Dec26.081615.27988@looking.on.ca>
References: <ABRAMS.90Dec19085930@division.cs.columbia.edu> <13284@milton.u.washington.edu> <1990Dec22.040101.26926@ddsw1.MCS.COM> <13444@milton.u.washington.edu> <1990Dec25.062336.16836@looking.on.ca> <ABRAMS.90Dec25213539@division.cs.columbia.edu>

Yes, I forgot to mention that you also want to define the level of
privacy when your information is going to a delivery company, or credit
company, or bank, etc.

Somebody once pointed out to me that American Express has very detailed
knowledge of the economy.  They know down to the day almost every retailer's
sales levels, and something about the buying habits off their members.  He
suggested that the investment end of A.E. could use that to buy and sell
shares.  "Hey, Sears sales are really up this month.  Gonna be a good quarter
for them...."

We don't always want immediate destruction of the info by delivery companies.
For example, often one signs for delivery, and you want that record around
later if there's trouble relating to the product or delivery.  Same applies
to bank transactions or credit cards -- clearly the credit card info stays
at least until you pay it, and the cheque info until the canceled cheque
is returned to you.

I also didn't point out that there are often many different types of
information exchanged in a transaction that go at different levels.  The
Telco publishes your name and number.  You expect it to keep the records
of who you called highly confidential.   You would like them destroyed after
the bill it settled, although you would be glad to let them collect general
stats before destroying them.

While I am in favour of implicit or explicit contracts of confidentiality,
I do not want to force them on people.  Those who wish to waive the terms
may.  And companies can be free to refuse service to those who insist on
too much confidentiality, unless they're monopolies, or there is
"privacy fixing."  (like price fixing)   You can always take your business
elsewhere.   Today few care.  In the future, they will care.
-- 
Brad Templeton, ClariNet Communications Corp. -- Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473
