IP: Safire: The Intrusion Explosion

[David Farber <dfarber () earthlink net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: "Anthony Baker" <anthony () designforpeople org>
Date: Thu, 2 May 2002 10:59:47 
To: <dave () farber net>
Subject: [NYTIMES] Safire: The Intrusion Explosion


Dave,

You may have already seen William Safire's editorial on
"opt-in/opt-out" and what he calls the intrusion lobby
in Washington.

Original Article (Free Subscription Required):
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/02/opinion/02SAFI.html



In particular, the following few paragraphs struck me:

[snip]

What about Internet privacy? The Commerce chairman, Fritz
Hollings, a Democrat, backed by the Republican Ted Stevens,
brought up a bill that infuriates that part of the intrusion
lobby: Hollings would require "opt-in" consent of Web users
before any disclosure of their intimate data about health,
finances and religious and political beliefs. To get the
presidential candidate John Kerry aboard, Hollings had to
weaken his bill to allow disclosure of all other internet
purchasing data without affirmative consumer consent.

Now that the issue is rejoined, privacy advocates should
create a simple "privacy index" so voters can see which
politicians are on their side and which don't care. This
will reveal some surprises: for example, Senator John
McCain is an opt-outer, weak on the privacy issue.

We should also expose the intrusion lobby as it yells
Yahoo! to the sale of private data without consent. Who
contributes to the intrusion lobby's fund — and which
legislators in Washington and in state capitals get its
largess?

[snip]


Anyone know is suck a Privacy Index exists? Or a site that
actually points to the paricipants in the Intrusion Lobby
and their ties to Washington politicos?

It's definitely a great idea.


Cheers,

Anthony




Anthony Baker  | aim: meadowlark07
t: 415.441.6819  | f: 415.276.9388
mailto:anthony () designforpeople org




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