Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!munnari.oz.au!uhccux!ames!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!letni!rwsys!sneaky!gordon
From: gordon@sneaky.UUCP (Gordon Burditt)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Lotus CD-ROM database cancelled
Message-ID: <47424@sneaky.UUCP>
Date: 28 Jan 91 00:25:14 GMT
References: <3231@litchi.bbn.com>
Organization: Gordon Burditt
Lines: 47

>     "Unfortunately, Lotus MarketPlace: Households is at the apex of an
>emotional firestorm of public concern about consumer privacy.  While we believe
>that the actual data content and controls built into the product preserved
>consumer privacy, we couldn't ignore the high level of consumer concern," said
>Jim Manzi, Lotus' president and chief executive officer.  "After examining all
>of the issues we have decided that the cost and complexity of educating
>consumers about the issue is beyond the scope of Lotus as a software provider."

I urge everyone to continue flaming Lotus about Lotus MarketPlace: Households
until they (1) promise NEVER to try it again, (2) announce the firing
of those responsible for the idea in the first place, and (3) admit that
the problem is not consumer education, but the fact that the whole idea
is Evil and Immoral to begin with.


>     C.B. (Jack) Rogers, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Equifax,
>which provides the data in MarketPlace, said: "Equifax has made several key
>investments in consumer-oriented initiatives, including our sponsorship of a
>national survey of consumer attitudes on privacy.  The major survey finding was

Since you probably have to give your family income, name, address, and probably
SSN to participate in the survey, you can imagine how biased it is.

>       *   Offering the data only to legitimate businesses, through a
>           controlled purchase process;

Realize that by the tests probably used for "legitimate business", (volume
of business done, length of time in business, traded on NYSE, etc.) the
Burglary Systems Division of a well-known firm in the field of Organized
Crime is more legitimate than all of the other Fortune 1000, Lotus, and
any major piece of the Federal Government.  A good test of how strict the 
test is:  if Equifax comes out legitimate, the test is no good.

>       *   Educating and advising users about the proper legal and ethical
>           responsibilities for list usage; and

You mean there ARE ethical ways to use the list?  Name one.  Anything involving
telemarketing or unsolicited mail doesn't count.

>       *   Providing several Lotus- and Equifax-funded options for consumers to
>           have their names removed from the database.

How about providing only options for consumers to be IN the database?  


					Gordon L. Burditt
					sneaky.lonestar.org!gordon