Often Hackers Don"t Need to Hack Into Government Computers to Get Your Personal Information
On one hand the government tells us they are trying to protect us from identity theft, hackers, and cyber crime.
However, on the other hand they are busy selling our data, collecting our personal information as required by law, and then either making it public information, or handing it out to companies and people that we would least likely wish to have it.
One could say that if the government can't keep our information safe, then they shouldn't be allowed to collect it, or compel us to give them information.
After all, if they force us to fill out forms, get licenses, permits, and record all this information then they need to have a legitimate use for it.
I would not consider it a legitimate use to take that information, turn around, and sell it to make 10s of millions of dollars.
However, that's what's happening in a good many cases.
There was an interesting piece in Florida Today on July 21, 2011 by Will Gorham titled; "Florida Makes Millions Selling Driver's Info," which stated that the State of Florida Department of Motor Vehicles; "FL made $63 million last year selling what many think is personal information.
Selling people's names, addresses, dates of birth, a list of the vehicles they drive, and it's legal.
Per federal mandate, there are companies that are entitled to this information.
Insurance companies, for example, are entitled to this information.
Employers are entitled to this information.
Florida is selling this information to companies including Lexus Nexus and Shadow Soft.
Those companies gather data on people & then sell that data.
" If you think this doesn't seem fair to those concerned about privacy, then you'd be right, and now it has touched off a firestorm of public anger, and really who can blame people for being upset.
Folks are finding their data being hijacked from SmartPhone Apps, Facebook privacy setting hacking, and their financial information from data stored with the companies they buy from, which has really become a problem.
The government, under mandate now, is allowed to give or sell the information that they collect, but one has to ask; if we cannot trust our own government with our personal information, then it seems we can trust no one, which is the old CIA quote; "Trust No One!" Too bad isn't it? Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
If you know of other cases, or issues where the government is giving out our personal and private information, then please shoot me an e-mail I'd love to hear about it, and perhaps prepare another article on this topic.
However, on the other hand they are busy selling our data, collecting our personal information as required by law, and then either making it public information, or handing it out to companies and people that we would least likely wish to have it.
One could say that if the government can't keep our information safe, then they shouldn't be allowed to collect it, or compel us to give them information.
After all, if they force us to fill out forms, get licenses, permits, and record all this information then they need to have a legitimate use for it.
I would not consider it a legitimate use to take that information, turn around, and sell it to make 10s of millions of dollars.
However, that's what's happening in a good many cases.
There was an interesting piece in Florida Today on July 21, 2011 by Will Gorham titled; "Florida Makes Millions Selling Driver's Info," which stated that the State of Florida Department of Motor Vehicles; "FL made $63 million last year selling what many think is personal information.
Selling people's names, addresses, dates of birth, a list of the vehicles they drive, and it's legal.
Per federal mandate, there are companies that are entitled to this information.
Insurance companies, for example, are entitled to this information.
Employers are entitled to this information.
Florida is selling this information to companies including Lexus Nexus and Shadow Soft.
Those companies gather data on people & then sell that data.
" If you think this doesn't seem fair to those concerned about privacy, then you'd be right, and now it has touched off a firestorm of public anger, and really who can blame people for being upset.
Folks are finding their data being hijacked from SmartPhone Apps, Facebook privacy setting hacking, and their financial information from data stored with the companies they buy from, which has really become a problem.
The government, under mandate now, is allowed to give or sell the information that they collect, but one has to ask; if we cannot trust our own government with our personal information, then it seems we can trust no one, which is the old CIA quote; "Trust No One!" Too bad isn't it? Indeed, I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
If you know of other cases, or issues where the government is giving out our personal and private information, then please shoot me an e-mail I'd love to hear about it, and perhaps prepare another article on this topic.
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