By Mary Mosquera, TechWeb News
Dec 7, 2000 (6:02 AM)
URL: http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20001207S0002
WASHINGTON -- The issue of privacy is growing increasingly complex as Americans
express concern over abuse of their personal data -- yet still support institutions
that handle their information. In a new survey of privacy and protection, an
inevitable paradox emerges: While most Americans support the free flow of information
from public records, they are concerned about their privacy in some instances when
personal information is extracted from those records, a recent survey showed.
Consumers are accepting that commercial companies supply background information on
them from public records. Still, they said, it must be for a valid social or legal
purpose, such as for employment or law enforcement.
And protections against misuse must be in place, according to the survey, Public
Records and the Responsible Use of Information.
More Americans are concerned about privacy than in the past, but they take a more
balanced view now, said Alan Westin, president of Privacy and American Business, which
conducted the survey with ORC International.
"More of those now registering concern fall into 'privacy pragmatist' rather than the
'privacy fundamentalist' camp," Westin said.
That more balanced outlook contributes to the broad support for commercial access to
personal information from public records. And the focus on information gathering over
the Internet by millions of Net users has fostered consumers accepting commercial
access to their information, Westin said.
How to balance good privacy policies and social values served by disseminating
public-record information is an important issue in an era when abuse of that
information, especially over the Internet, has led to fraud and identity theft.
The 1,000 adults surveyed found it acceptable if companies provided personal
information for law enforcement, such as past or present fraudulent conduct or
criminal convictions, or for hiring. Using public records to locate a current
residence or work address was the least acceptable service, unless it was for law
enforcement, potential employers, or consumer credit companies.
Those polled thought it acceptable, but less so, for private investigators and
ordinary citizens to access public records for background and location information,
the report said.
Consumers strongly oppose the government posting personally identified public
information on the Internet.
"However, opposition fades when specific safeguards are introduced," the report said.
Safeguards included the government requiring the consent of the individual before
displaying a public record file on the Internet and demanding a specific, legitimate
purpose from a user before allowing their access.
"Sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or medical
conditions, were removed prior to displaying the public record on the Internet," the
report said.
The sale of Social Security numbers over the Internet is a source of privacy abuse and
identity theft.
"Regulating the purchase and sale of Social Security numbers over the Internet won't
come overnight," said Ron Plesser, a partner at Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe,
Washington. "It's a challenge for industry how to use Social Security numbers
properly."
