"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
> Peter Aitken wrote:
>
> > I think this is a gaggle of paranoid horseshit.
>
> I note that the same company which collects much of
> the supermarket card data is ChoicePoint, which
> also offers the CLUE database access service to
> insurance companies. Here is a description of CLUE:
>
>
http://www.insurance.wa.gov/factshee...ctShtRcdNum=13
>
> I don't know what data is accessible from CLUE.
> But I think if a big customer like the insurance
> companies had a use for access to data owned
> by ChoicePoint, it would make sense that
> ChoicePoint would listen to them. Can you
> imagine a ChoicePoint executive saying "Hey,
> I don't think it would be ethical to let insurance
> companies have access to this data because
> consumers wouldn't be expecting their shopping
> history to be turned against them."?
>
> Here's more information about ChoicePoint:
>
> http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=3408
>
> The organization resisting supermarket loyalty
> cards is CASPIAN:
>
> http://www.nocards.org/join/index.shtml
>
>

The info you provide is interesting but it really does not support your
original post. I would not put anything beyond corporate America, but just
because they would do something does not mean they are in fact doing it.
Uninformed speculation, paranoia, conspiracy theories do nothing but reduce
the credibility of people and organizations who are fighting real threats.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.