Submitting a resume on the Internet could result in a privacy nightmare for would-be job seekers. Online resume databases could be using and selling personal information in ways never imagined by applicants, according to Pam Dixon and the San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC).
Fed-up with unwanted telemarketing calls, consumers are anxious to add their telephone number to a do-not-call list. Interest has been fueled by recent media reports of a new do-not-call list soon to launched in California. When this happens, California will join about 20 other states that already have do-not-call lists.
In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has adopted rules that will establish a national do-not-call registry, and the FTC may be joined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in this effort.
December 5, 2002
Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., SW
Washington, D.C. 50554
RE: Comment on Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 - CG Docket No. 02-278 and CC Docket No. 92-90 ecfs@fcc.gov
Dear Secretary Dortch:
James moved apartments and put in his change-of-address card with the U.S. Post Office. Unfortunately, they didn't forward his mail to his new apartment. When his mail was dropped at the previous apartment, the new tenants left it out in a common area. As a result, someone took the credit card applications sent to him, filled them out and returned them in his name—making James a victim of identity theft.
James’s name has been changed to protect his privacy.
- Are you fed up with receiving pre-recorded telemarketing calls?
- Do you live in Southern California?
- Help us gather evidence for possible legal and legislative action.
Here are typical scenarios.
Submitted to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, October 2002
Testimony of Edmund Mierzwinski, Consumer Program Director, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG)
Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
United States Senate
The Honorable Paul Sarbanes, Chairman
September 19, 2002
Today, the Financial Services Privacy Coalition published a full-page ad in major California newspapers. The attention-grabbing headline screamed, "SB 773: A Special Interest Experiment California Can't Afford." The ad urges readers to contact their state legislators and tell them to vote against Senator Jackie Speier's SB 773, which will be heard on the Assembly floor this week in its final push to the Governor's office.
Robert Gellman
Privacy and Information Policy Consultant
Washington, DC
© Robert Gellman 2002
Version 1.1
A colleague called last week to discuss medical privacy. It was a personal matter. He recently had a medical procedure that he did not describe. He doesn't want me or anyone to know anything about his diagnosis or treatment. I didn't ask for details. For purpose of this article, I will identify my friend as Fred (not his real name).
A shorter version of this paper was presented at the Computers, Freedom and Privacy 2002 Conference: Plenary Session #9: "How Public Is too Public? Public Records and Personal Privacy"
San Francisco, CA
INTRODUCTION