We Know Where You Live

The benefits and privacy concerns of "databasification".

1 minute read

May 25, 2004, 2:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"Welcome to the database nation, where the tiny chunk of data that represents your physical address can pull up an overhead view and driving directions to your front door. And that’s not all... Your county government’s Web site probably displays your home’s floor plan and assessed value, letting nosy neighbors chuckle over Alice’s quaint split-level or Bob’s lack of elbow room when the in-laws visit....Pay-as-you-go databases like Lexis-Nexis’ P-TRAK, P-FIND, and P-SEEK tie together mortgage records, vehicle registrations, court judgments, bankruptcy histories, and any other public information they can gather...Credit card companies know what you buy, frequent shopper programs know what you eat, and your insurance company knows what medical procedures you’ve undergone.Is it any wonder that public concern about privacy has risen dramatically during the last decade?"

NPR interviewed 'Reason' Magazine Editor Nick Gillespie in who talked about how and why Reason its June issue featured a personalized cover for subscribers -- with a satellite photo of the reader's home."

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Monday, May 24, 2004 in Reason Online

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