beck@clstr1.DECnet ("CLSTR1::BECK") (09/02/86)
Mr. Rosa, is correct in saying that "the obstacles to implementation are not technological," since this procedure is currently being implemented. See "matches hit civil servants hardest" in the august 15, 1986 GOVERNMENT COMPUTER NEWS. "Computer Matching/Matches" is defined as searching the available data for addresses, financial information, specific personal identifiers and various irregularities". The congressional Office of Technology Assessment has recently issued a report, "Electronic Record Systems and Individual Privacy" that discusses matching. My concern with this is how will the conflicting rules of society be reconciled to treat the indiviual fairly. Maybe the cash society and anonymous logins will become prevalent. Do you think that the falling cost of data will force data keepers to do more searches to justify their existence? Has there been any discussion of this topic? peter beck <beck@ardec-lcss.arpa> ------