They took the database off line, of course, and sicced the authorities on Roberts, who agreed to take his off line as well. Curiously, though, no one ever asked him to erase the data, which still reside on his home computer. The only time people care about this is when they can see it. As soon as they can't see it, they think there's no issue. But the problem is still there.
Information brokers point out that databases are the lubricants that keep modern businesses running.
Last month U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Charles Grassley introduced the Personal Information Privacy act of 1997, which would make it tougher for businesses to sell Social Security numbers, unlisted phone numbers and other kinds of personal data. The legislation was prompted when Feinstein's staff members claimed to have found her Social Security number on the Net in less than three minutes. Our private lives are becoming commodities with tremendous value in the marketplace. That's the bad news. The good news is that at least someone is making money on the Web.