Make sure you read that Privacy Policy.

[rivetspoon.livejournal.com]

Or should we say "Lack of" Privacy Policy?

Think your data isn't online? Think your privacy is secure? Take a minute to visit Spokeo and you'll change your mind.

The popular information-gathering website offers a multitude of options for finding information about anyone. It purports to know your income, religion, spouse's name, credit status and the number of people in your household. It even offers a satellite shot of your house, complete with an estimated value.

Spokeo’s not alone in the information-mining business -- competitor Intelius, for instance, offers similar services -- and for as little as $2.95 a month for a year’s membership, you can run a detailed background check that pulls information from local, state and federal government databases and hundreds of social-networking sites.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/19/spokeo-cyber-security-warn-threat-privacy/#ixzz1CULVe8ew

My friend showed me the website and helped me get my information blocked. Intelius isn't so easy, though; they require you to fax them proof it's you, and every time your info changes it'll come back onto the website and you have to reprove it's you asking for it to be taken off again.

Why?

[R]evealing some personal information is okay because it means there is a way to link an online persona with an actual individual. Angry posters at Websites can be traceable and not engage in anonymous name-calling, in other words.

Comments

[eajou.livejournal.com]

Did I say it smelled right? No, I said I found the inaccuracies that I saw in my information funny. Way to put words in a person's mouth.

[rivetspoon.livejournal.com]

Pardon me; it seemed you were taking this whole idea rather lightly, considering it isn't just information dredged up from Facebook but actual government records.

[eajou.livejournal.com]

Nah, I'm not happy about the concept in the least to be honest. It is a huge invasion of privacy and there is one person I know who does have the correct information on there (and ironically she is the one who goes out of her way to hide her identity on the internet, while I really don't bother).

Like others were saying, sites like this are pretty common now. Scary, but common. Not comforting at all really and if it had my right information I would be freaking out too. As it is, the mistakes were so bad that I had to try to find humor in the situation.

[rivetspoon.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. Yes, my dad is also one of those that "tries" to hide (he fails at trying, but he doesn't seem to realize that) and his info was pretty extensive, including rental properties we have and their estimated value and how long we've lived in this house. Why does a phone book need to have that information? What even.

I just can't help but think these sites are being allowed as a scapegoat for Internet regulation. =_=