Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!sdd.hp.com!caen!math.lsa.umich.edu!math.lsa.umich.edu!jjewett
From: jjewett@math.lsa.umich.edu (Jim Jewett)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Lotus Marketplace
Keywords: CD-Rom consumer database,privacy
Message-ID: <1990Nov19.000849.23021@math.lsa.umich.edu>
Date: 19 Nov 90 00:08:49 GMT
References: <1990Nov16.205011.10348@uncecs.edu> <1990Nov17.074534.8751@looking.on.ca> <48514@cornell.UUCP> <4960@rsiatl.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@math.lsa.umich.edu
Reply-To: jjewett@math.lsa.umich.edu (Jim Jewett)
Organization: University of Michigan, Department of Mathematics
Lines: 54

In article <4960@rsiatl.UUCP>, jgd@rsiatl.UUCP (John G. DeArmond) writes:
|> wayner@hermod.cs.cornell.edu (Peter Wayner) writes:
|> >brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton) writes:

|> >>We are pulled in two different directions.

|> >>On one hand, we have deep concern on how the government might regulate
|> >>our use of computers and what we will do with them -- what information
|> >>we will collect, what we will share, what we will publish.  We fear a
|> >>bureaucracy and invasions of our homes by armed goons on strange
|> >>pretexes.

|> This problem would seem to me to have a rather simple solution.  Simply
|> prohibit the storing and using of any personal information in any
|> database without the explicit  consent of each person regarding each
|> and every database.  Said permission should required to be sought 
|> decoupled from any other transaction. Thus, your bank would not be allowed
|> to sell your name as a condition for obtaining a loan.


	So what constitutes a database?  

	My personal phone book is a list of people with their names,
phone numbers, and email addresses.  It may also include other information,
such as their (home) address, or their roommates.  (No need for two entries.)

	The information in here was voluntarily given to me, but it was often 
for a specific purpose.  (eg ... Call me tonight about bridge ... have Joe
call me immediately ...)  I didn't specifically ask "Oh, can I keep your
phone number?"

	I also keep a file of email addresses with other snatches of information
about people I don't know as well.  For instance, with one entry, I note
that he is a grad student in a department I may someday apply to, and that
he was helpful.  I didn't get explicit permission to save his address,
or information about him.

	Realistically, you don't want to ban these databases ... I could
certainly do the same with pen and paper (though I'd lose it sooner.)

	But what if I then decide that a particular posting is really funny,
and start forwarding it to everyone on my lists?  Or what if I start
forwarding biz.*?  Or what if all I do is tell the local people about a
play production that I'm in?  Or what if I start a business, and use
these lists as my first customer base?  Where do you draw the line?  These
people did give me the information -- except for those who posted it 
publicly, but they didn't give it to me for commercial reasons.  They
also didn't necessarily give it to me for social reasons originally, but
some would in fact be annoyed if I dropped them from the list.

-jJ 

jjewett@math.lsa.umich.edu       Take only memories.
Jewett@ub.cc.umich.edu           Leave not even footprints.