Date: Thu, 25 Aug 94 07:18:12 EST
Errors-To: Comp-privacy Error Handler <owner-comp-privacy@uwm.edu>
From: Computer Privacy Digest Moderator <comp-privacy@uwm.edu>
To: Comp-privacy@uwm.edu
Subject: Computer Privacy Digest V5#026
Computer Privacy Digest Thu, 25 Aug 94 Volume 5 : Issue: 026
Today's Topics: Moderator: Leonard P. Levine
Computer Privacy in Illinois
Credit Card privacy violation
Re: Internet White Pages
Re: National Registry: Equifax for Driving Records?
Re: Electronic Cash
Digital Cash - WWW Site
Re: Big Brother at Checkout Stand
Re: Big Brother at Checkout Stand
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Housekeeping information is located at the end of this Digest.
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From: nobody@kaiwan.com (Anonymous)
Date: 22 Aug 1994 22:19:23 -0700
Subject: Computer Privacy in Illinois
Organization: KAIWAN Internet (310/527-4279,818/756-0180,714/741-2920)
This message did not originate from the above address. It was
automatically remailed by an anonymous mail service. Please report
inappropriate use to <ghio@kaiwan.com>
I am in the midst of a divorce action.
I read somewhere on the net the divorce attorneys are commonly
suggesting and arranging for extracting information from the opposing
spouses computer as a source for evidence.
This in fact has happened to me. In the same article, I saw that in
many states (including Illinois) this action may be illegal.
Can anyone tell me where I can get the appropriate legal text for the
state of IL relating to this matter. An internet source would be
great, but I'll go the library if I need to instead.
While there is nothing incriminating in the material that was extracted
from my computer, if this action was illegal I'd like to show my wife's
attorney for the schmuck that he is.
------------------------------
From: Ken Bass <kbass@clark.net>
Date: 23 Aug 1994 09:52:22 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Credit Card privacy violation
[This appears on the news wire. It is posted w/o permission]
HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1994 AUG 17 (NB) -- First Data Corp., a
leader in the "back end" of credit card processing agreed to purchase
part of Envoy Corp., a leader in card issuing technology, which will
create a "closed-loop" in which it could sell data on customers to
merchants.
Company officials were very careful in describing what they hope to do,
emphasizing that the result will only be special offers given to
customers by their banks which increase the value of their credit
cards.
First Data is creating a new company, to be owned by its clients, which
will determine terms and conditions under which information will be
made available, rules it says will protect customer privacy.
Still, the move into what FDR Chief Financial Officer Walter Hoff
called "information processing" could prove controversial.
Roger Peirce, president of FDC's Electronic Funds Services unit,
admitted as much during a conference call to analysts attended by
Newsbytes. "We've been sensitive to public policy concerns. If it's not
handled right there could be a backlash," he said. When Equifax said a
few years ago it would sell mailing lists based on customer purchases
to merchants, public pressure forced it to back-away.
So Peirce took the time to explain exactly how FDR will handle this new
potential revenue-stream. "The primary fuel of growth in credit cards
is displacing cash and checks. It's fueled by additional features on
cards, like those of the AT&T Universal Card," which offers discounts
on AT&T services to users of its Master Card. "We can provide
information and access on the cardholder base to merchants in selective
ways -- providing an upscale hotel with information about upscale
travelers demonstrating certain types of behavior."
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel chain, for instance, could learn the names of
customers who travel to Atlanta frequently, and offer these customers
discounts at its two hotels there. "There are an infinite variety of
combinations, like electronic couponing, all of which can be enabled in
a closed-loop environment."
By working closely with its clients, Peirce hopes, First Data can avoid
privacy problems. "What makes our approach unique is that as we provide
promotions to cardholders, all the information will be distributed
through the card-issuing bank, through its normal channels of
communication."
For instance, "You have a relationship with the bank. Your bank already
has information on your purchase and spending patterns. We won't allow
the general information about your buying habits to be distributed to
merchants. What we'll provide is controlled access -- if the merchant
wants to know cardholders who've traveled to Atlanta, and will provide
significant value, then if that value is distributed to the cardholder
through communication controlled by the bank, it frees us from the
privacy problems, and it makes the bank appear to be bringing value to
the cardholder."
First Data is the world's largest processor of credit card accounts for
banks and other institutions with over 75 million accounts on file. It
is also the largest processor of transactions, handling over 1.3
billion per year for over 1.3 million merchants.
First Data officials acknowledged in the conference call, however, that
their front-end, card issuance, has been considered weak. They praised
this part of Envoy, with Hoff noting "they've never lost a
transaction."
The transaction is still subject to shareholder and regulatory
approvals, and should close in the first quarter of 1995. First Data is
paying $156 million in FDR stock for Envoy, and could pay another $21
million in stock, based on Envoy's future performance. Envoy's business
will represent about 12 percent of FDR's total business once the deal
is complete.
FDR officials also noted that Envoy has a strong presence in industries
like restaurant and lodging, while FDR's strengths are in convenience
stores, independent sales organizations and general retailers. This
will create new cross-sale opportunities, the company said.
Envoy had revenues of $29 million in 1993, and normal industry growth
indicates it could have revenues of $40 million this year. In 1993,
FDR had net income of $173 million on revenue of $1.5 billion.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19940817/Press Contact: First Data Corp., Gary P.
Tobin, 201-525-4707)
------------------------------
From: John Medeiros <71604.710@compuserve.com>
Date: 23 Aug 94 00:24:50 EDT
Subject: Re: Internet White Pages
skypatrl@crl.com (Albert Zhou) writes: What can one do with an
e-mail address? Sending junk mails? They are much easier to dispose
than paper junk mails. Try to stalk me? Haha..
Tempt not fate, lest those with less regard for you fill (as in several
thousand messages) your electronic mailbox with material that an old
sailor would find objectionable. Then again, if you don't mind sifting
through to find your mail, I guess its okay. Personally, I'd be mad.
"Stalk you", laugh not, remember, he who laughs last, laughs best.
Some of the crackers around us are quite capable of doing just that.
Everything that someone can do to you in the "real world" can be done
to you here. Well, almost everything.
------------------------------
From: "David M. Bruce" <dbruce@mit.edu>
Date: 23 Aug 1994 22:13:28 GMT
Subject: Re: National Registry: Equifax for Driving Records?
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
skypatrl@crl.com (Albert Zhou) writes: It seems like many states
rely on a database National Registry rather than respective DMV's
for driving records.
All states have their own DMV database systems. All states can access
each other's databases throught the NCIC (National Crime Information
Center) system at the FBI in Washington, DC.
According to some personal accounts, this database is full of
eroneous and outdated information, and in many cases, the drivers
have to bear the burden of correcting the errors.
According to Wired Magazine, DMV databases are some of the most
accurate databases in the United States.
Dave Bruce
------------------------------
From: nevin@cs.arizona.edu (Nevin Liber)
Date: 23 Aug 1994 15:23:54 -0700
Subject: Re: Electronic Cash
Organization: University of Arizona CS Department, Tucson AZ
Paul McKeever <mckeever@cogsci.uwo.ca> wrote: Anonymity is not a
problem with digital cash. For example, I hold a card for a
photocopier. Currently, I pay cash to have credits (for example,
money) charged-up onto it's magnetic strip. When I use my card at
the photocopier, the copier does not know to whom the card
belongs...it simply takes credits off of my photocopy card.
The technology you describe is no different than paper cash is today,
other than the use of a magnetic medium instead of having bunches of
paper and coins. There isn't much value added by this approach over
paper cash (the only two things I can think of are that you don't have
to fumble around with change, and the photocopiers don't have to be in
a secure area, since they never contain any legal tender). I'd suspect
that it is fairly easy to forge.
People want to be able to use digital cash for things like paying for
goods and services over the Internet. What this does is free me from
being physically present when I want to do an anonymous transaction.
The scheme above is inadequate for this.
--
Nevin ":-)" Liber nevin@cs.arizona.edu (602) 293-2799
------------------------------
From: sutter@verisoft.com (Paul Sutter)
Date: 23 Aug 1994 23:38:15 +1700
Subject: Digital Cash - WWW Site
There has been a bit of discussion here regarding David Chaum's
article in Scientific American and Digital Cash.
The article and other information can be found using Mosaic:
http://digicash.support.nl/
Paul Sutter
------------------------------
From: bernie@fantasyfarm.com (Bernie Cosell)
Date: 24 Aug 1994 11:45:14 GMT
Subject: Re: Big Brother at Checkout Stand
Organization: Fantasy Farm, Pearisburg, VA
Joe Dunn writes:
klootzak@stein3.u.washington.edu (Michael Stuyt) writes: I
know the new Colorado Licenses have a magstrip on the back.
Probably be at the point where you drag the license through a
reader as proof of age...
isn't that great. Your driving record will be on that magnetic
strip. how many liquor stores or bars will sell to you knowing
you've been dwi?? think of the legal ramifications they face if
they do and you get in an accident after drinking there?? ...
complete invasion of privacy...
Perhaps you could take this a bit slower, since I'm having trouble
following your point. Are you claiming that making the *public*record*
of your prior convictions for dwi known is somehow an invasion of
privacy? Or are you claiming that it is wholly inappropriate to for
the gov't to regulate the selling of alcohic products? What 'privacy'
are you talking about here and exactly how is it being invaded?
--
Bernie Cosell bernie@fantasyfarm.com
Fantasy Farm Fibers, Pearisburg, VA (703) 921-2358
--->>> Too many people; too few sheep <<<---
------------------------------
From: morris@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Mike Morris)
Date: 25 Aug 1994 08:11:49 GMT
Subject: Re: Big Brother at Checkout Stand
Organization: College Park Software, Altadena, CA
dunn@nlm.nih.gov (Joe Dunn) writes:
klootzak@stein3.u.washington.edu (Michael Stuyt) writes: I know
the new Colorado Licenses have a magstrip on the back.
Probably be at the point where you drag the license through a
reader as proof of age...
isn't that great. Your driving record will be on that magnetic
strip. how many liquor stores or bars will sell to you knowing
you've been dwi?? think of the legal ramifications they face if
they do and you get in an accident after drinking there?? I'd take
a magnet and make sure that strip never works, complete invasion of
privacy...
I think you are jumping to conclusions. I know I did when CA shifted
from paper licenses to plastic cards withmag stripes. The claimed
purpose of the strip was to get ready for future ticket printing
machines that would have a "swipe" reader for entering the info from
the license. Yeah. Shure. Time to get a big magnet. Then I read an
article here on the net, and another in the L.A. paper. I figured that
the newspaper article would be a total acceptance of the new system, no
privacy considerations, etc. Well, it was obviously written by a
techno-know-nothing, but it was interesting from a problem description
standpoint.
According to the newspaper, the old paper licenses would fall apart
after a few years, and could be altered - change the birthdate (for
buying alchol), change the picture, etc... So the state was told to fix
the problems. So they decided to go plastic with a digitized picture,
and a hologram over the picture. And as long as we're going to shift
to a plastic card license, why not use the off-the-shelf credit card
blanks. Hey - they have mag stripes - let's use them!.
As I remember the posting on the net from a few years ago, someone
assembled the equipment to decoded the CA license strip: there were 3
separate data tracks, the first of which had the name & dr. lic.
number, and I forget the other two - but it boiled down to the fact
that there was nothing on the strip that wasn't on the face of the
license. At least in California. You milage (in other states) may
vary.
--
Mike Morris WA6ILQ | This space intentionally left blank.
PO Box 1130 |
Arcadia, CA. 91077 | All opinions must be my own since nobody pays
818-447-7052 evenings | me enough to be their mouthpiece...
------------------------------
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End of Computer Privacy Digest V5 #026
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