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A.C.L.U.'s Search for Data on Donors Stirs Privacy Fears
EFL.NY Times, so you'd have to register.Do as we say, not as we do. How so typically liberal... 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. But we're the ACLU! We're the Good Guys! Not like Ashkkroft and BushHitler! You can trust us! You have our word on it! We're not like the others! 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. Oh, no problem! You want my credit card numbers, too? Or will you just steal them? 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." The ACLU associated with HYPOCRISY! Perish the thought! Posted by: tu3031 2004-12-18 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=51593 |