Date: Wed, 04 Nov 92 13:00:02 EST
Errors-To: Comp-privacy Error Handler <comp-privacy-request@PICA.ARMY.MIL>
From: Computer Privacy Digest Moderator <comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL>
To: Comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL
Subject: Computer Privacy Digest V1#095
Computer Privacy Digest Wed, 04 Nov 92 Volume 1 : Issue: 095
Today's Topics: Moderator: Dennis G. Rears
Information America
Re: Litigation, SSN and IRS
Re: ssn and traffic tickets
Re: ssn and traffic tickets
Re: Computer Privacy Digest V1#094
Re: Posting grades by SSN
Clinton Endorses Right to Information Privacy
Re: public access to state info
(none)
Cellular Snooping and Privacy Issues
The Computer Privacy Digest is a forum for discussion on the
effect of technology on privacy. The digest is moderated and
gatewayed into the USENET newsgroup comp.society.privacy
(Moderated). Submissions should be sent to
comp-privacy@pica.army.mil and administrative requests to
comp-privacy-request@pica.army.mil.
Back issues are available via anonymous ftp on ftp.pica.army.mil
[129.139.160.200].
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 16:49 EST
From: wolit@mhuxd.att.com
Subject: Information America
Resent-From: _Brinton Cooper <abc@brl.mil>
In the November, 1992, issue of ONLINE, is a horrifying article (pp. 103 - 105)
in the "Legal Briefing" department by one Teresa Pritchard-Schoch, entitled,
"Information America: A Tool for the Knight in Shining Armor." The author
gushes on about what a wonderful boon the Information America database service
is for lawyers (her "Knights in Shining Armor") and others. A few extended
quotes:
"In one interesting case we (the research staff at a law firm)
investigated an entire jury's background before the members were
even selected. The case involved three affluent plaintiffs. . . .
Our goal was to find a jury who would not have any sympathy for
the plaintiffs . . . . By checking a motor vehicles license
database and real estate property records, we were able to compile a
jury whose members all except one drove cars more than six years old.
Moreover, no one on the jury owned any real estate. Online sources
also revealed facts about the jury members' likes and dislikes which
were subtly used to influence them at trial. The opposing counsel was
completely unaware of the tactics our firm used and probably still
wonders why he lost that case. . . ."
"Information America databases for investigative services include
Sleuth, Asset Locator, Executive Affiliation, People Finder, Business
Finder, and Litigation Prep.
"Sleuth searches millions of public records from both state and county
sources, including corporate and limited partnership records, UCC and
lien filings, . . . assumed and fictitious names. . . . The
relationships between individuals and business would be almost
impossible to duplicate manually. . . ."
"Asset Locator search real property records, aircraft registration
. . ., stock holdings . . ., and personal property locators. . . . A
real property search for transfers, rather than holdings, is also
available. . . ."
"People Finder accesses 111 million names, 92 million households and 61
million telephone numbers. The profile obtained includes the current
address, telephone number, residence type, length of residence,
gender, date of birth, up to four household members and their dates of
birth, and up to ten neighbors and their names and addresses. The
sources of information . . . include telephone directories, the U.S.
Postal Service's change of address file, direct marketing records,
publishers' address files, driver's license files, voter registration
records, birth and wedding announcements, etc."
The author acknowledges that "many . . . feel somewhat unsettled" about her
accounts, and that "Others are uneasy about increasing availability of private
information about their personal lives." But, she argues, "this information
has always been available."
I know that commercial credit-reporting firms, such as TRW, must make
individuals' files available to them for inspection and correction. Do such
laws apply to database services such as Information America as well? Do any
states provide individuals with rights concerning the commercial use of
personal information identified with them? (In the case of credit services,
you usually sign away any privacy rights when you apply for credit, but I
wasn't aware that subscribing to a magazine resulted in the same forfeiture.)
Are there any other services such as this that provide comprehensive access to
a wide range of personal information about private citizens?
Jan Wolitzky, AT&T Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ; 908 582-2998, wolit@mhuxd.att.com
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 92 11:55:03 EST
From: Brinton Cooper <abc@brl.mil>
cc: comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL
Subject: Re: Litigation, SSN and IRS
Organization: The US Army Research Laboratory
The other side of the issue of privacy, dependent SSNs and the IRS is
this: I should not have to shoulder a greater share of the federal tax
burden because privacy considerations permit each member of a divorced
couple to claim the same child as dependent on the tax returns of each,
thereby paying less total tax than the law allows.
_Brint
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 92 11:59:35 EST
From: Brinton Cooper <abc@brl.mil>
cc: comp-privacy@PICA.ARMY.MIL
Subject: Re: ssn and traffic tickets
Organization: The US Army Research Laboratory
Why not just tell the cop that you're not carrying your Social Security
card and don't have the number memorized? Law probably doesn't require
carring of the card.
_Brint
------------------------------
From: "Wm. L. Ranck" <ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu>
Subject: Re: ssn and traffic tickets
Date: 30 Oct 92 19:59:40 GMT
Eric Hunt (bsc835!ehunt@uunet.uu.net) wrote:
: In Alabama, your SSN is printed on your driver's license. It's *not* the
: DL#, but it is printed on the card itself.
: How many other states also have the SSN printed on the license?
I think I've mentioned this before, but since you asked . . .
In Virginia your drivers license number *is* your SSN.
--
*******************************************************************************
* Bill Ranck ranck@joesbar.cc.vt.edu *
*******************************************************************************
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 92 19:24:53 PST
From: Dave Gomberg <GOMBERG%UCSFVM.BITNET@cornellc.cit.cornell.edu>
Subject: Re: Computer Privacy Digest V1#094
With respect to Harry Rubin's concern about anonymous access to "public"
information: First, if it is truely public info, it is a breach of MY
privacy to ask me to identify myself before you give it to me. But if the
info is not that public (whatever that means), you can just ask me to identify
myself by my driver's license number, then send the info to my home address
as per your records. That should be pretty hard to fake. Dave
Dave Gomberg GOMBERG@UCSFVM Internet node UCSFVM.UCSF.EDU (415)731-7793
Seven Gateview Court, San Francisco CA 94116-1941
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1992 13:18:37 -0600
From: jim thomas <tk0jut1@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: Posting grades by SSN
Organization: Northern Illinois University
In article <comp-privacy1.94.2@pica.army.mil> Michael Mogensen-Vermillion <mwmv@athena.cas.vanderbilt.edu> writes:
>In article <comp-privacy1.93.2@pica.army.mil> David Ratner <ratner@pram.cs.ucla.edu> writes:
>>
>>It seems much easier for all parties if grades can be posted. I personally
>>don't care if my grade is posted by my ssn. In one class at Cornell a
>>waiver was actually sent to all students, and if they signed it they
>>authorized the posting of their grade by ssn --- otherwise they had to
>>physically ask the prof. Why not have each student make up some random
>>number to post grades by, if that's what it takes.
>>
>
>When I taught at Middle Tennessee State University, my department was
>advised by an attorney for the Board of Regents that it was illegal to
>post by ssn. We were directed instead to ask each student to both grant
>permission _and_ make up some random identifying phrase (not necessarily
>a number) if they wanted his/her grade posted. If a student declined to
>sign or to make up a code word, that student's grade was not to be
>posted. One bonus of this method was that some of the students came up
>with rather entertaining and illuminating phrases (some of which could
>not be posted in a public place :^).
>
Our university (Northern Illinois U.) has the same policy, although it's s 's
rarely enforced. If I intend to post final grades by SSN, I discuss it
with the class in advance and then, on the final exam, include an
"ungraded question" that requires a "YES/NO/Alternative #" response
indicating whether the student gives/denies permission or prefers an alt
number inserted.
Jim Thomas
------------------------------
From: CPSR <cpsr@csli.stanford.edu>
Subject: Clinton Endorses Right to Information Privacy
Organization: Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 1992 17:49:43 GMT
Apparently-To: comp-society-privacy@uunet.uu.net
Excerpts from - Clinton/Gore Campaign Pledges Strong Consumer
Protections; Blasts Bush/Quayle Record - Oct. 26
* * *
A Clinton/Gore Consumer Bill of Rights will include:
1. The Right to Safety - To be protected against the
marketing of goods which are hazardous to health or
life.
2. The Right to be Informed - To be protected against
fraudulent, deceitful, or grossly misleading
information, advertising, labeling or other practices,
and to be given the facts needed to make an informed
choice.
3. The Right to Choose - To be assured, whenever possible,
access to a variety of products and services at
competitive prices; and in those industries in which
competition is not workable and government regulation
substituted, an assurance of satisfactory quality and
services at fair prices.
4. The Right to be Heard - To be assured that consumer
interests will receive full and sympathetic
consideration in the formulation of government policy
and fair and expeditious treatment in its administrative
tribunals.
5. The Right to Consumer Education -- To help consumer
education become an integral part of regular school
instruction, community services and educational program
for people out of school; to ensure that consumers have
the assistance necessary to plan and use their resource
to their maximum potential and greatest personal
satisfaction.
6. The Right to Privacy - To not have information provided
by consumers for one purpose used for a separate purpose
without the consumer's knowledge and consent.
------------------------------
From: Jerry Marco <jerry@richsun.cpg.trs.reuter.com>
Subject: Re: public access to state info
Date: 2 Nov 92 18:48:10 GMT
Organization: Reuters Client Site Systems, Oakbrook,IL
In article <comp-privacy1.94.6@pica.army.mil> harry@tenet.icsi.berkeley.edu (Harry I. Rubin) writes:
>Maybe the bottom line is that it really is too dangerous to allow the
>general public to get at data. I would hate to think that is really
>true. And there will always be some people who can wangle access, then
>they have an advantage over the rest of us.
Great, that's all we need, a legally enforced level playing field
for crooks.
--
Jerry Marco, Manager jerry@cpg.trs.reuter.com
Reuters Information Management Systems
1400 Kensington Rd
Oak Brook, IL 60521 USA
------------------------------
From: elee@bonnie.ics.uci.edu
Subject: (none)
Date: 2 Nov 92 18:54:09 GMT
From: Eric J. Lee
This is part of the ICS 131 bboard posting requirement.
In an article by Michael Mogensen-Vermillion, Michael responds to
the idea of using a random phrase or number to identify students so
that their grades may be posted out in the open without fear of anyone
else finding out their grades. This seems like a good idea to me; as
Michael stated, it gives students a chance to think up humorous
catch-phrases or nicknames, while keeping themselves anonymous to
everyone except the grader. They can even change their name from class
to class to keep anyone from finding out who they are.
I agree that everyone should have the right to keep his or her
grade confidential. However, I wonder what most everyone's
concern is with this matter. Who do you wish to hide your grade from?
I personally don't care about who sees my grade. If another student,
professor, or job seeker sees my grades, it won't make any difference
to me. I don't see how someone else's knowledge about my grades could
be used to my disadvantage or advantage; if anyone really wished to
find out my grades and do me harm, I'm sure he or she could find my
records some other way than seeing it posted.
Eric J. Lee
from John Tillquist's section, 9:00 - 9:50 am
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 92 9:49:24 PST
From: "Peter G. Neumann" <neumann@csl.sri.com>
Subject: Cellular Snooping and Privacy Issues
[Moderator's Note: This was forwarded by Monty Solomon <monty@proponent.com>
from the risks digest. ._dennis]
An article by John Flinn on the front page of the San Francisco Examiner,
Sunday, 1 November 1992, listed several cases of inadvertent or advertent
eavesdropping, in the midst of a fine story on the problems in general.
* A supposedly private conference call among SF Mayor Jordan, real-estate
magnate Walter Shorenstein, and several others discussing the then not
public withdrawal of George Shinn from the effort to save the SF Giants
was BROADCAST on a TV frequency.
* "On the first day of the Soviet coup against Mikhail Gorbachev last year,
a scanner buff overheard Vice President Dan Quayle making a call from Air
Force Two to Sen. John Danforth about the unfolding crisis."
* "In New Hampshire, an anti-nuclear activist picked up calls made from the
control room at the Seabrook nuclear plant, including one real-life Homer
Simpson saying, ``I've got a bad feeling about these valves.'' "
* A Green Bay Packer football player was overheard calling a male escort
service and making explicit requests.
* A 23-minute conversation allegedly between Princess Diana and a man
who called her ``my darling Squidge'' was taped by a retired bank
manager in Oxford, and transcribed in The Sun. (The woman allegedly
referred to the Royal Family as ``this ****ing family''.)
After discussing privacy laws, legalities, and realities, Flinn notes that at
Scanners Unlimited in San Carlos, CA, "about a quarter of the customers are
interested in telephone eavesdropping."
------------------------------
------------------------------
End of Computer Privacy Digest V1 #095
******************************