NYT: ACLU's Search for Data on Donors Stirs Privacy Fears

[Osamasux]

By STEPHANIE STROM
Published: December 18, 2004

The American Civil Liberties Union is using sophisticated technology to collect a wide variety of information about its members and donors in a fund-raising effort that has ignited a bitter debate over its leaders' commitment to privacy rights.

Some board members say the extensive data collection makes a mockery of the organization's frequent criticism of banks, corporations and government agencies for their practice of accumulating data on people for marketing and other purposes.

Daniel S. Lowman, vice president for analytical services at Grenzebach Glier & Associates, the data firm hired by the A.C.L.U., said the software the organization is using, Prospect Explorer, combs a broad range of publicly available data to compile a file with information like an individual's wealth, holdings in public corporations, other assets and philanthropic interests.

The issue has attracted the attention of the New York attorney general, who is looking into whether the group violated its promises to protect the privacy of its donors and members.

"It is part of the A.C.L.U.'s mandate, part of its mission, to protect consumer privacy," said Wendy Kaminer, a writer and A.C.L.U. board member. "It goes against A.C.L.U. values to engage in data-mining on people without informing them. It's not illegal, but it is a violation of our values. It is hypocrisy."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/18/national/18aclu.html?hp&ex=1103432400&en=f22aecfdd672e57b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Newsjock]

1. I guess it's only OK ...

... when the RNC does it. Don't see any attorneys general going after them, do we.

[Osamasux]

3. Spitzer is way left of center.

He'll go after anyone, anywhere, anytime. That's not what it was about for him.

The ACLU action pissed me off too. I don't care who it is, I don't want anyone checking up on me. After the election and the new environment we have to operate in, I was set to sign up with them. That's on hold now until they swear off this crap.

[mhr]

4. I Hate To Tell You This But Your Fears Are Too Late To The Party

I know of a very interesting company that sells its services to the retail industry.

They have collected over 8.5 terabytes of customer data in-house. They model down to the street level and have data on 110 million US households. They use this information to advise retailers on selecting sites for new stores. The theory is why open a store if the customers you are trying to reach don't live there.

One can only imagine if this type of data was shared with the US government since they can map their data to the street address level.

[Muzzle Tough]

2. I can see the lawsuit now: ACLU v. ACLU.

I bet the ACLU would win that one!

[Moderator]

5. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1081931