Consumer credit scores are already used to increase car insurance premiums even for existing customers with no infractions and for increases in homeowner insurance where there is no claim or increased risk except a change in credit rating (as defined by the same agencies that gave AAA ratings to the sliced and diced sub-prime mortgages and have been notorious for years for keeping inaccurate data on file). Many consumers do not even know that each time they go to the doctor, the data on their diagnosis and treatment goes to a medical reporting company that keeps this information on file about them to release to any future insurance company. Your so-called private health information is anything BUT private!

Data is already being mined and used in too many ways that are not fair or in the best interest of the individuals, but are purely to increase corporate profit. Americans need to wake up soon to these ever growing concerns or in another generation or so, forever lose any semblance of freedom.

Every time I buy something, I’m giving information to the retailer about my buying preferences. This is true whether it’s digital information or not. Back in the ‘good old days’ the town grocer and dry goods store owner knew everything about everyone’s buying preferences. That information was also used at the shop owner’s discretion. I don’t really see my purchasing habits as private information.

Generally while you are pregnant, you haven’t had the child yet. It’s kind of binary.
Unless you meant, “before you have your FIRST child”.
In which case, say that.

I like this direct marketing.
Before I signed up to a bunch of helpful online retailers, I never realised the astonishing level of vouchering, couponing, sales, special deals etc…
Has it made me buy more?
I don’t THINK so, although to be honest I couldn’t be sure.
However, for consumables such as food, drink, cycling equipment etc… it has certainly made me buy cheaper.

If the worst thing that ever happens to me because of the lack of governmental protections for my privacy is that I get bombarded with ads from various corporations trying to sell me stuff, I will consider myself very fortunate. Given how easy these databases supposedly are to hack, I’m much more worried about my identity being stolen, and/or infomation about me and my family being intentionally or inadvertantly being made public that we intended to remain private.

IMHO, the bigger danger is the proliferation of GPS chips in devices….between your car and your cellphone, it wouldn’t be too difficult for the government or anyone else to track your movements, especially if combined with tracking of your credit cards.

Imagine, for example, what would happen to a teacher or coach who was discovered by parents at their school to buy porn or sex toys online, engage in BDSM, or frequent strip clubs…they almost certainly would lose their jobs and likely have their careers ruined despite doing nothing wrong, never mind being excellent targets for blackmailers in the meantime.

The danger isn’t just the collection of such data, it’s the fact that due to weak laws and mediocre database security, it may inadvertantly fall into the hands of people who have no business knowing about it.

One implication is that I think services like Facebook will develop into freemium models that offer a choice – a pay service in which no user info is provided to advertisers and a free service in which user info is used to target ads. Revenue per user for Facebook is low enough that the economics could work.

Another implication is that this privacy issue is another reason why “free” software (e.g., GoogleDocs) won’t displace pay software in enterprises. Set aside questions of robustness and support – a company would rather pay a couple hundred bucks per seat for Office than rely on reassurances from the Googles of the world, whose business model is finding value in the data it collects about users, that they will protect users’ confidential business information.

And AARP, really, they’ve been sending me stuff since I hit 30.

These companies must have lousy algorithms.

Privacy, like respect, is a two-way street. In fact the two principles have much to do with each other.

To clarify further: have a ponder about what it means to have private information on someone else, on a personal level. Think about how that feels as a power dynamic; with every face you see, being able to call up information they wouldn’t willingly share with a stranger on the street. Think about how it lets you objectify them, almost dehumanize them, as you think about the leverage and manipulation capabilities your knowledge gives you.

Simple example.

See that pretty girl who comes through every Friday? How would you like to know where she lives, who she knows, when she’s single, what her drinking habits are, where she goes on a Saturday night, etc.?

There are guys who like to know that info. And they work for companies and governments.

My perspective: if you tend to view corporate bodies and governments as just that, corporate, rather than the teeming masses of greedy, leering, nosy, stinking people, even murderous at times, that they are composed of, then you become a lot less sanguine about them having intelligence files on your life.

Keep them at arms length, I say.

The types of things that Felix is advocating above could potentially change that. Again, I’m not worried about law enforcement, Google, or Target having access to my data. I’m worried about my mother, friends, and boss having access to my data.

Several companies have already proven that they don’t understand the implications of making information public. Look at the Google Buzz, Netflix “anonymous” viewing history, Facebook private message, and Playstation Network fiascoes. Those are just a couple examples of private data being made available not just to the companies in question but also to anyone that you know personally. And two of these examples were actually intentional.