-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.ustimesdaily.com <A HREF="http://www.ustimesdaily.com/">U.S. Times Daily News</A> ----- State to sell residents� salary info June 28, 1999 By The Associated Press TALLAHASSEE - The state plans to start selling confidential salary information on millions of Floridians to banks, mortgage companies and other lenders that need to know a person�s creditworthiness. Just months after a public outcry stopped the state from selling drivers� license photos to a private company, lawmakers quietly passed a law making the Department of Labor sell access to its salary database to consumer-reporting agencies. The consumer-reporting agency in turn would sell that individual salary information - with the person�s consent - to creditors as income verification. The Department of Labor collects income data on an estimated 6.5 million residents from wage reports that employers file quarterly so unemployment taxes can be calculated. Lenders and supporters of the new law say giving creditors electronic access to this salary database is no different than the traditional loan or mortgage application process - except that it�s faster. Instead of sending a request to a person�s employer for income verification, which can take up to two weeks, creditors can confirm salaries in seconds by computer using the state�s data. But privacy rights and consumer groups argue that information collected by the government for one purpose, with an expectation of confidentiality, should not be re-sold to private companies for another purpose. "It�s very hard to control the way it�s used," said David Sobel, an attorney for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit Internet watchdog group in Washington. "There is a risk of function creep attached to these kind of data," Sobel said. "The next thing we know it could become available to direct marketers or your next-door neighbor and the individual loses control of information about themselves." The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida in Miami says selling access to state salary databases doesn�t violate privacy as long as individuals can choose whether to release the information. The Florida law takes effect Oct. 1, but the Labor Department doesn�t expect to have a contract to sell the data in place by then. "We have privacy concerns, too, because obviously a lot of people would like to get their hands on this information," said Dan Hauversburk, a data administrator for the agency. No estimates are available of how much money the state will make. The state makes about $22 million each year selling information from drivers� licenses to insurance companies, banks, rental car companies, marketing companies and newspapers - without individuals� consent. Unlike those programs, and the scuttled deal to sell Florida drivers� license photos, access to the state�s salary database would require a person�s written consent. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End Kris DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
