More on privacy, via schneier:

[unixronin]

Almost every piece of personal information that Americans try to keep secret -- including bank account statements, e-mail messages and telephone records -- is semi-public and available for sale.

That was the lesson Congress learned over the last week during a series of hearings aimed at exposing peddlers of personal data, from whom banks, car dealers, jealous lovers and even some law enforcement officers have covertly purchased information to use as they wish.

[....]

The committee subpoenaed representatives from 11 companies that use the Internet and phone calls to obtain, market, and sell personal data, but they refused to talk.

All invoked their constitutional right to not incriminate themselves when asked whether they sold "personal, non-public information" that had been obtained by lying or impersonating someone.

In other words, out of 11 companies that sell personal data, 11 companies - gee, that's all of the sample, isn't it? -- had illegally obtained some of that data by various forms of fraud, all 11 knew it was illegal, and all 11, oddly enough, chose to continue to be lying ratfinks about it instead of coming clean.

And we allow these people to stay in business why, exactly?

Comments

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

And we allow these people to stay in business why, exactly?

Because we are not customers of these companies, so we have no pull. Our politicians do not have the balls to stand up to the customers of these companies, because that is where their money, and reelection, comes from.

And the idiots want me to get all lathered up about the government knowing who I call, and who I gave money to in my last international funds transfer? Please!