Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!bionet!arisia!roo!janssen From: janssen@parc.xerox.com (Bill Janssen) Newsgroups: comp.society.futures Subject: Re: Privacy Message-ID: Date: 20 Nov 90 01:46:45 GMT References: <_&_^R9#@rpi.edu> <13930@crdgw1.crd.ge.com> <7209@castle.ed.ac.uk> Sender: news@parc.xerox.com Distribution: comp Organization: Xerox PARC, Palo Alto, CA Lines: 22 In-reply-to: ercn67@castle.ed.ac.uk's message of 18 Nov 90 15:42:59 GMT In article <7209@castle.ed.ac.uk> ercn67@castle.ed.ac.uk (M Holmes) writes: Try to remember that this is a planet, not just a bunch of states between Mexico and Canada. Good point. I think that this is what makes the privacy discussion essentially fruitless. No matter how many privacy laws are enacted, there will be countries that will allow businesses to amass and sell information about things. And these businesses will be only a phone call away... However, privacy laws may make the gathering of the information more expensive, so the cost of providing it will go up, which will provide some small disincentive for some users of the service. Which seems good. Bill -- Bill Janssen janssen@parc.xerox.com (415) 494-4763 Xerox Palo Alto Research Center 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, California 94304