Presentation to Western Regional
Home Management and Family Economics Educators
Salt Lake City, Utah
By Beth Givens, Director
Privacy on the Internet is exploding as a topic of public concern these days. Recent surveys have found that 4 out 5 Net users are concerned about threats to their privacy when they're online. Yet only 6% of them have actually experienced privacy abuses.
San Diego County Dept. of Health and Human Services Conference, Integrating Health and Human Services
April 9, 1998
Priscilla was seeking a promotion in her county job. She was asked to sign a waiver allowing the personnel department to conduct a background check. She felt the waiver was far too broad. This is an excerpt:
In 1973 the U.S. Dept of Health Education and Welfare (HEW) to look at the impact of computerization on medical records privacy. The members wanted to develop policies that would allow the benefits of computerization to go forward, but at the same time provide safeguards for personal privacy.
San Diego County Technology Summit
San Diego County Supervisors
Presentation by Beth Givens
Thank you Chairman Horn for convening this Technology Summit today, and for inviting me to speak.
Privacy has become one of the hottest societal and public policy issues of our time. You can't open up a newspaper these days without seeing an article about the implications of a new technological development affecting personal privacy.
Anna bought several pieces of furniture at a store. When she tried to pay by check, she was asked to show her driver's license. The clerk took her license and placed it on a pre-marked spot on the counter. She looked up and saw a camera on the ceiling. She complained that her driver's license had been photographed without her permission, canceled her order and left the store. She followed up by writing a complaint letter to them and to her legislator.
Anna's name has been changed to protect her privacy.
Marsha's home fax machine happens to have a telephone number similar to one of a health care facility. On several occasions, the local hospital has faxed patient records to her home. Even though Mary has called the hospital several times to warn them of their error, they continue to make the mistake.
Marsha's name has been changed to protect her privacy.
June 10-14, 1997
Session One: Data Base Study, P974806
- Pre-Conference Written Comments, April 14, 1997
- Oral Presentation at June 10, 1997, Workshop
- Post-Workshop Comments, July 14, 1997
Pre-Conference Written Comments, April 14, 1997
Sally's home was badly damaged in an earthquake. She had to vacate it so that repairs could be made. The phone company was unable to find her new address in order to mail the final bill and eventually sent her bill to their collection department.
Mark and his wife shopped for maternity clothes to prepare for the upcoming birth of their baby. The maternity clothing store wanted their names and address. When they asked that their names not be sold to marketers, they were told that the store never sells such data. They soon began receiving baby-related offers in the mail. When Mark traced the solicitations back, he discovered that the maternity store had sold their information.
Mark's name has been changed to protect his privacy.