Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!cunixf.cc.columbia.edu!cs.columbia.edu!abrams From: abrams@cs.columbia.edu (Steven Abrams) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: What is private information? Message-ID: Date: 28 Dec 90 04:15:21 GMT References: <13284@milton.u.washington.edu> <1990Dec22.040101.26926@ddsw1.MCS.COM> <13444@milton.u.washington.edu> <1990Dec25.062336.16836@looking.on.ca> <1990Dec26.08 Sender: news@cs.columbia.edu (The Daily News) Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science Lines: 24 In-Reply-To: brad@looking.on.ca's message of 26 Dec 90 08:16:15 GMT In article <1990Dec26.081615.27988@looking.on.ca> brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton) writes: >Somebody once pointed out to me that American Express has very detailed >knowledge of the economy. They know down to the day almost every retailer's >sales levels, and something about the buying habits off their members. He >suggested that the investment end of A.E. could use that to buy and sell >shares. "Hey, Sears sales are really up this month. Gonna be a good quarter >for them...." How does A.E. get this info on the retailers -- just from their knowledge of what percent of the sales comes from AE? And are there any laws about their use of this information? Inquiring minds want to know... ~~~Steve -- /************************************************* * *Steven Abrams abrams@cs.columbia.edu * **************************************************/ #include #include