Consumer Data Brokers Selling Lists of Rape Victims
On Wednesday, privacy advocates told lawmakers in Washington, D.C. data companies are selling lists that include names of rape victims, drug and alcohol addicts, seniors suffering from dementia and more.
According to CNN, the World Privacy Forum found the lists during an investigation of data brokers and their practices. The data is used mainly to target shoppers based on specific details like clothing size or spending habits.
The group found brokers selling lists of rape victims, AIDs patients and more:
Other lists the nonprofit found included the home addresses of police officers, a mailing list for domestic violence shelters (which are typically kept secret by law) and a list of people with addictive behaviors towards drug and alcohol.
Currently, data brokers are required by federal law to maintain the privacy of a consumer’s data only if it is used for credit, employment, insurance or housing. And while medical privacy laws prohibit doctors from sharing patient information, medical information that data brokers get elsewhere, such as from the purchase of over-the-counter drugs and other health care items, is fair game.