MAIN POINTS

We need data mining reform. These are the basic suggestions. There is more information below them if you’d like a more detailed explanation.

·       It should be illegal for anyone to collect, buy, and/or sell ANY personal information. This includes websites, apps, marketing companies, digital ads, general junk mail, catalogs, magazines, etc. I know America is all about capitalism and everything is a business, but my entire personal history and that of my family should not be for sale, and I should not be forced into a bombardment of information I never asked for.

·       All of these parasitical data mining websites and companies should be forced to close down and permanently delete all of the data they have collected.

·       All cookie and analytics tracking should automatically be set to “do not track”. Anyone who doesn’t mind providing their information for a more personalized experience would need to manually opt in to these services. Additionally, this preference should be set up on your browser and/or in your settings, instead of you having to select it repeatedly in individual places. Companies shouldn’t be allowed to trick you with miles of legal jargon or small print. The question of whether you want your data collected is either YES or NO.

·       All information on any website/app/system, etc. should automatically be deleted after a certain period of time of idleness. Like 2-3 years max, and that’s being generous. There is no reason for companies to hoard your information, especially if you aren’t even using their services anymore, or never have. (This does not include medical, banking, or business ventures that are legally required to keep your information for a set number of years, but even that deadline should be upheld.)

·       Any updated or newly created laws should be on a national level, and not set up differently by state. We all use the same internet and services. There should be one set of standardized rules for everyone.

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EXPLANATION

The United States, like many other parts of the world, are very behind on working to protect the personal data privacy of citizens. Only a few states have small scale laws against some data mining, and overall, there is nothing on a national level. People and companies are able to run rampant with your information with barely any regulation. We’re always improving our internet and connectivity capabilities, yet are seemingly uninterested with issues such as the use of the personal identifying information collected during our online presence. Most people don’t think about it because the world is all about easy access, fast speeds, and auto-saving your information to save time. The laws passed throughout the years are, generally speaking, embarrassingly out of date and have not kept up with the rapidly growing digital age or the tools and tricks of the people out to steal your identity.

 

There are many ways we are tracked. The internet is on the largest scale. I should have the right to decide who has my information, and me using a site or service SHOULD NOT and DOES NOT give them permission to then sell my information to third parties. It’s so obnoxious that this practice is legal. Many data mining websites have obtained my personal information without my permission, and many won’t delete it. Some even insist I provide absolute proof that I’m me before they’ll even consider removing it. I do not have my personal data listed publicly anywhere or even have social media, yet they have my full name, age/birthday, every address and phone number I have ever had in my entire life, and my emails. They also have the same data for my relatives. It is all linked together, nicely packaged, easily accessible and useable for anyone who would like it. Anyone can go on these sites, steal our identities and do who knows what with the information.

 

There is no reason why these sites should exist and they are just making quick work for criminals. In the old days you had the option to opt out of having your information publicly listed (like with phone books), but now everything electronic is collecting your data at all times whether you like it or not, or are even aware of it, and it’s virtually impossible to stop it. If anyone actually wants to be listed on these sites or provide analytics then they can submit the information themselves. Someone shouldn’t have their information stolen and then have to beg and fight to have it taken down. Monitoring the internet and asking sites to remove your information is a full-time job. There are businesses you can pay to help you, but in my experience it’s a waste of money because even if the site agrees to remove your data, they can just add it back later on, and many have.

 

Personal data has no business being a business. There should be laws preventing anyone from collecting and/or selling personal data, and there should be better laws preventing scammers from contacting people using this data. I can’t even begin to tell you how many spam calls, emails, and texts I get that are both regular junk and phishing scams. I block and report them to my phone and email providers, but I never hear back about anything so I don’t know if change comes from those complaints, and there are thousands - certainly more than anyone could ever feasibly respond to or investigate. Plus, there is a real epidemic of fake job listings right now, which has recently been in the news, where scammers are collecting information from unsuspecting people looking for work and using it for nefarious purposes. That in itself is an entirely other problem.

 

I personally feel that part of the reason there haven’t been any major laws passed in regards to data privacy is because politicians are some of the people buying your information. Anytime it’s voting season I get a bunch of mailers, texts and emails from politicians that I never signed up for. They buy your personal information so they can solicit you for votes. Not only is this unethical, it is also an invasion of our privacy. As representatives of the general population, it is their responsibility to take better care to protect the people they represent.

 

It is time to set parameters. Below are some suggestions:

·       It should be illegal for anyone to collect, buy, and/or sell ANY personal information. This includes websites, apps, marketing companies, digital ads, general junk mail, catalogs, magazines, etc. I know America is all about capitalism and everything is a business, but my entire personal history and that of my family should not be for sale, and I should not be forced into a bombardment of information I never asked for.

·       All of these parasitical data mining websites and companies should be forced to close down and permanently delete all of the data they have collected.

·       All cookie and analytics tracking should automatically be set to “do not track”. Anyone who doesn’t mind providing their information for a more personalized experience would need to manually opt in to these services. Additionally, this preference should be set up on your browser and/or in your settings, instead of you having to select it repeatedly in individual places. Companies shouldn’t be allowed to trick you with miles of legal jargon or small print. The question of whether you want your data collected is either YES or NO.

·       All information on any website/app/system, etc. should automatically be deleted after a certain period of time of idleness. Like 2-3 years max, and that’s being generous. There is no reason for companies to hoard your information, especially if you aren’t even using their services anymore, or never have. (This does not include medical, banking, or business ventures that are legally required to keep your information for a set number of years, but even that deadline should be upheld.)

·       Any updated or newly created laws should be on a national level, and not set up differently by state. We all use the same internet and services. There should be one set of standardized rules for everyone.

 

Please sign this petition to get laws created to better protect personal information. Contact your local representatives and pass this along to friends and family. Obviously, it will be impossible to completely remove every scrap of information about yourself, especially since some things are considered public record, but even getting your hands on official public records is a process. We can greatly reduce the scale of the issue and create a better and more secure system for preventing the unnecessary stream of incessant data.

 

I highly recommend giving the internet a good scrub for your own personal data. The extent of it is mind blowing. A quick internet search will give you a number of articles explaining tips and tools for how to do this.

 

Below is a list of data mining sites. This is barely the tip of the iceberg. You may want to check to see how much of your information is out there.

·       411locate.com

·       advanced-people-search.com

·       advancedbackgroundchecks.com

·       allpeople.com

·       backgroundchecks.org

·       beenverified.com

·       brbpub.com

·       checkpeople.com

·       clustrmaps.com

·       cocofinder.com

·       cocolookup.com

·       commonsearches.net

·       confidentialphonelookup.com

·       cyberbackgroundchecks.com

·       databaserecords.com

·       deepsearchpro.com

·       docusearch.com

·       emailtracer.com

·       familytreenow.com

·       fastbackgroundcheck.com

·       fastpeoplesearch.com

·       findmypast.com

·       findpeoplefast.net

·       findpeoplesearch.com

·       freebackgroundcheck.org

·       freepeoplesearch.io

·       freepeoplesearch.org

·       freepeoplesearchtool.com

·       gladiknow.com

·       golookup.com

·       governmentregistry.com

·       governmentregistry.org

·       govwarrantsearch.org

·       heylocate.mobi

·       infotracer.com

·       intelius.com

·       kiwisearches.com

·       localrecordsoffices.com

·       lookify.io

·       lookups.melissa.com/home

·       myheritage.com

·       ndb.com

·       netdetective.com

·       numberguru.com

·       numbertrackerpro.com

·       numlooker.com

·       numlookup.com

·       ourpublicrecords.org

·       peekyou.com

·       people-wizard.com

·       peopleconnect.us

·       peoplefinder.com

·       peoplefinderfree.com

·       peoplefinders.com

·       peoplelooker.com

·       peoplesearch.com

·       peoplesearch.pro

·       peoplesearching.com

·       peoplesearchnow.com

·       peoplesearchpro.com

·       peoplesmart.com

·       peopleswhized.com

·       peopleswhizr.com

·       peopleswiz.com

·       peopleswizard.com

·       peoplewhiz.com

·       peoplewhiz.net

·       peoplewhized.com

·       peoplewhized.net

·       peoplewhizr.com

·       peoplewhizr.net

·       peoplewin.com

·       peoplewiz.com

·       peoplewizard.net

·       peoplewizr.com

·       persopo.com

·       pipl.com

·       privateeye.com

·       publicdatacheck.com

·       publicinfoservices.com

·       publicrecordcenter.com

·       publicrecordreports.com

·       publicrecordscenter.org

·       publicrecordsnow.com

·       recordsfinder.com

·       searchbug.com

·       searchpeoplefree.com

·       searchpeoplefree.net

·       searchpublicrecords.com

·       searchquarry.com

·       searchusapeople.com

·       searqle.com

·       sheriffsdepartment.net

·       skipease.com

·       smartbackgroundchecks.com

·       socialcatfish.com

·       spokeo.com

·       spydialer.com

·       spyfly.com

·       spytox.com

·       thatsthem.com

·       tracerservices.com

·       truepeoplesearch.com

·       truepeoplesearch.io

·       truthfinder.com

·       unmask.com

·       usa-people-search.com

·       usatrace.com

·       usphonebook.com

·       ussearch.com

·       ustitlerecords.com

·       veripages.com

·       webmii.com

·       whitepages.com

·       whocalled.info/en

·       whocalled.today

·       whocallsme.com

·       whoismind.com

·       wyty.com

·       yellowpagecity.com

·       yourfamily.com