The information is collected and used for purposes directly tied to the reason for its collection. However, often times the information is also used and disclosed to others for many reasons that have little, if any, nexus to the underlying purpose for its collection. As the FTC examines this issue, CDT believes it is important to look at the central role government has played, and continues to play, in the creation of these private sector databases, and consider whether a review of policies governing access to personally identifiable information in public records is warranted. Marketing pitches such as the one above by Adfinity hint at the wealth and detailed nature of personal information generated within the private sector. We will now be one of the few firms to better predict demographic, lifestyle and financial behavior of consumers.
New technology generates increasingly detailed pools of data on individuals.
As more and more of our activities and relationships with individuals, corporations, and government entities move online the personal information available for collection, use, and possible reuse and disclosure by the private sector will continue to escalate. The privacy implications of this increased data collection, and the potential impact of this increased data collection on individuals' ability and willingness to engage in First Amendment protected activities, as well as its implication for identity theft and fraud all highlight the need to examine the collection and availability of this growing pool of data. This would shore up an existing hole in the FCRA and limit the availability of the individual's name, address, prior addresses, social security numbers, and phone numbers which is the information needed to commit financial fraud. Extending the FCRA rules to cover this information would assist in controlling fraud and would bring the FCRA a step closer to protecting consumer privacy. Consumer and privacy advocates have brought attention to the potential risks to individuals' privacy and identity posed by access to these databases.