Bye Bye Privacy: “If You Run a Red Light, Will Everyone Know?”

14 Responses to “Bye Bye Privacy: “If You Run a Red Light, Will Everyone Know?””

1. Carielle says on 8/3/08 at 7:03 am:
   

   Public records (which include criminal records, real estate records, marriage/divorce information…basically anything you’re filing with a county) have been accessible for a long time. You can go online or call in to your local county office and get information. The only difference here is that someone is compiling the information rather than you doing the footwork yourself.
   Some records are (or at least are supposed to be) sealed and as such non-public, such as some criminial convictions (especially in the case of minors), adoptions, etc.
   This is more an instance of a little-used but a available avenue suddenly becoming more visible.

   I’m of mixed minds on it. On the one hand, privacy is something we should all have a right to. On the other hand, I’d much rather know the truth about someone’s past and if they’re not being honest, then how does one get to that? This would impact on more of a personal level than a professional one since there are laws in place that allow a person to dispute inaccurate information if they’re released from or denied a job due to a background check.

2. Elsa says on 8/3/08 at 7:09 am:
   

   “…to dispute inaccurate information if they’re released from or denied a job due to a background check”

   This assumes an employer is going to tell you this the reason you are being rejected which is doubtful. The terror is in the ability to alter records and I could tell you horror stories of how this backfires and in fact, I think I will!

   But right now the rhino needs breakfast so…

3. llama says on 8/3/08 at 7:17 am:
   

   I think, eventually, this will end up being becoming normalized. In other words, once employers see that most people have “something” there, then it will no longer be a big deal. And for those things that are a big deal, then I have no problem with that information coming out. For example, pedophiles or people who are skipping out on their child support. And it goes both ways. I can check out the president of some company I’m applying for a job in, or even the person that is interviewing me. I can see the interview now: I’ll see your citation for an accident, and raise you a DUI conviction.

   I see it sort of like pornography. It used to be OH MY GOD HUSH, now with the internet, we know that a lot more people look at porn than we originally thought. I’m not so much defending (or reviling) pornography as I am pointing out that what was once under the rug is now fairly normalized.

   What I DO very much have a problem with is that the records are not accurate. And also, I have a big problem with the fact that advances in finding and collating these records are (as usual) not proceeding in pace with social justice. If we’re going to use these records, then we need to make damn sure that the method of acquiring the record is fair. In other words, don’t pull someone over because they’re of a different race than you, or harass a homeless person using the law. Because that record is going to haunt them in many ways down the line.

4. llama says on 8/3/08 at 7:26 am:
   

   Funny, they have this disclaimer at the top:

   Note: Some states include minor traffic offenses in the data that we receive; however, these people might not be actual criminals.

   So, basically, the data is vague and useless. I think checking yourself on this site before a job interview will become routine. As well as coming up with reasons/excuses for what’s on there

5. peppermint says on 8/3/08 at 8:15 am:
   

   In addition to inaccuarate data that could ruin someone’s chances for a job or anything else and the erasure of personal privacy, what worries me is this: what happens to the compiled research data? Who’s collecting the data on all the searches that get done on free websites like this? Because you can bet that someone is.

   I mean, what if someone has a grudge, or even a legitimate reason for checking you out, and bingo, you end up in a database controlled by whomever for having been checked up on. If someone really has an axe to grind and does multiple searches just to make sure you make multiple appearances in compiled research data, what then? Can someone make you an item of interest just by ensuring your name/records are coming up in multiple searches?

   The opportunity for making mischief with this stuff is very large, seems to me . . .

   Also, are you guys aware that if you are charged with a federal offense (charged, not convicted) the feds can force you to give up a DNA sample? That means they not only have your DNA in a federal database (which is not infallible, by the way, false positives do occur in DNA analysis, contrary to popular belief) they also have your entire family’s DNA profile in the database? Talk about an invasion of privacy - they’ve got the essence of life in a database!

   And who gets access to that database? Insurance companies who might deny insurance if your family has a cancer gene? Rental agencies who won’t rent to you if there’s a gene indicating a propensity for addiction or mental illness? What’s the security of the databse like? Can it be breached?

   How very Orwellian this all sounds, right? Or should I say Plutonian?

6. Jilly says on 8/3/08 at 8:47 am:
   

   Well if you have goofy DNA you’re not supposed to be discriminated against, due to the law Congress passed recently. BUT Congress also passed S 1858 this year, FOR THE CHILDREN, which the President signed into law. Collects DNA from all newborns, now.

   Google “The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007″ if you want to know more.

   Fun and games.

7. Loonsounds says on 8/3/08 at 9:46 am:
   

   One small plus (not worth the minuses, but there) is the fact that this service can be used to find out whether or not someone is lying about not being married.

8. Snapdragon says on 8/3/08 at 10:51 am:
   

   Wow, if you use your imagination - it all sounds quite horrifying.

9. Heather M. says on 8/3/08 at 11:03 am:
   

   It makes me sick, guys. I want to fast-forward to the Pluto in Aqua revolution and cannot believe we have to watch this go down first,

10. wyrdling says on 8/3/08 at 2:17 pm:
    

    we only get pluto in aquarius as a response to pluto in capricorn. so of course we need the second to balance out the first… and it’s not all fun and games. the french revolution was an insane bloodbath.

11. wyrdling says on 8/3/08 at 2:29 pm:
    

    …i can say for certain it’s not comprehensive. so it might give people a false sense of security if someone doesn’t come up. that’s a flip side danger to stuff like this… we place our responsibility for making personal judgement calls in an external authority and then trust it to be accurate.

12. wyrdling says on 8/3/08 at 2:30 pm:
    

    …when it isn’t.

13. Dina says on 8/4/08 at 3:37 am:
    

    Me too, Heather M., me too.

14. Madeleine says on 8/4/08 at 7:59 am:
    

    This morning’s paper has an article describing how the health insurance companies are now going to go to PHARMACY records to see what prescriptions you and your family take and this will help the create a health profile on you–so they can decide what risk you are as far as giving you options for health care coverage. (Or not, mostly!)

    So, if you avoided filing claims with your DOCTOR to protect your privacy, and paid cash, if you received and filled a prescription, THAT info is now going to be disseminated through some big health clearing house. Privacy? I don’t think so.

    Si if you quietly fill a prescription for sa,Lexipro, this info will go to the insurance companies. If you took an antibiotic for an STD, that too. get the drift??

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