Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Data Broker Was Selling Lists Of Rape Victims, Alcoholics, and 'Erectile Dysfunction Sufferers'
Forbes • 12/19/2013 @ 3:40PM • Kashmir Hill, Staff Writer
[font size=1]For just $79, buy the names of 1,000 people who have been raped.[/font]
Data brokers have been under scrutiny this year, with regulators and lawmakers asking these data behemoths what intel they’re compiling and selling about us and how we can get access to it to make sure it’s accurate. In a congressional hearing this week, Senator Jay Rockefeller hit the privacy invasion jackpot with the testimony of Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum. She revealed disturbing lists that she has found for sale from data brokers you’ve likely never heard of, including a “Rape Sufferers List” from a company called MEDbase 200, which sells lists about the medical industry.
The list, which was taken down yesterday after an inquiry from the Wall Street Journal, is still cached, as are some other disturbing lists such as “erectile dysfunction sufferers,” “alcoholism sufferers” and “AIDS/HIV sufferers.“ All the lists promised 1,000 names for the low, low price of $79. That means it cost less than 8 cents to figure out a person’s life sucks.
[font size=1]This one is a soft sell.[/font]
The text describing each list is the same (but you swap in the affliction of choice for “rape”): “These rape sufferers are family members who have reported, or have been identified as individuals affected by specific illnesses, conditions or ailments relating to rape. Medbase200 is the owner of this list. Select from families affected by over 500 different ailments, or who are consumers of over 200 different Rx medications. Lists can be further selected on the basis of lifestyle, ethnicity, geo, gender, and much more. Inquire today for more information.”
MORE
[font size=1]For just $79, buy the names of 1,000 people who have been raped.[/font]
Data brokers have been under scrutiny this year, with regulators and lawmakers asking these data behemoths what intel they’re compiling and selling about us and how we can get access to it to make sure it’s accurate. In a congressional hearing this week, Senator Jay Rockefeller hit the privacy invasion jackpot with the testimony of Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum. She revealed disturbing lists that she has found for sale from data brokers you’ve likely never heard of, including a “Rape Sufferers List” from a company called MEDbase 200, which sells lists about the medical industry.
The list, which was taken down yesterday after an inquiry from the Wall Street Journal, is still cached, as are some other disturbing lists such as “erectile dysfunction sufferers,” “alcoholism sufferers” and “AIDS/HIV sufferers.“ All the lists promised 1,000 names for the low, low price of $79. That means it cost less than 8 cents to figure out a person’s life sucks.
[font size=1]This one is a soft sell.[/font]
The text describing each list is the same (but you swap in the affliction of choice for “rape”): “These rape sufferers are family members who have reported, or have been identified as individuals affected by specific illnesses, conditions or ailments relating to rape. Medbase200 is the owner of this list. Select from families affected by over 500 different ailments, or who are consumers of over 200 different Rx medications. Lists can be further selected on the basis of lifestyle, ethnicity, geo, gender, and much more. Inquire today for more information.”
MORE
- XMAS SPECIAL: Next 48 hours ONLY!!!! -- 1000 names for $49.99!!! {with coupon}